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THEATRE 256

VIDEO GAMES AS PERFORMANCE: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

2 credits.

Using a video games-as-performance framework, explore the history, business, and technology of video games. Study the cultural, artistic, and technological evolution of major video game consoles, handheld systems, and personal/gaming computers, as well as a look at the business, technology, and people behind the games. Contemplate video games as theatrical performance while journeying into a different segment of gaming each week and examining their cultural impact on each era.

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: None Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities Level - Elementary L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify iconic video game consoles, characters, companies, people, themes, and key attributes across video gaming generations to place key developments in video games into broader social, cultural, and historical contexts. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Describe key aspects of the video games as performance framework. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Employ various approaches to critically evaluate the artistic, societal, and cultural impact of video games as performance. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Demonstrate knowledge of major movements, trends, and events in the development of video games as cultural artifacts in global society. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Examine game characteristics through practical play and/or observing playthroughs using a theatrical lens. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify iconic video game consoles, characters, companies, people, themes, and key attributes across video gaming generations to place key developments in video games into broader social, cultural, and historical contexts. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Describe key aspects of the video games as performance framework. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Employ various approaches to critically evaluate the artistic, societal, and cultural impact of video games as performance. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Demonstrate knowledge of major movements, trends, and events in the development of video games as cultural artifacts in global society. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Examine game characteristics through practical play and/or observing playthroughs using a theatrical lens. Audience: Undergraduate

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