Dr. Pablo Abend

Participate!

Participative Practices in Games - Methodological Challenges (07.-09.04.2016)

// Pre-Conference Event // Thursday, April 7, 2016 3:00 p.m. | Schloss Wahn Two Guest Lectures and One Panel Discussion Aktuelle Herausforderungen der Medien- und Kommunikationstheorie (event in German) with Prof. Dr. Erhard Schüttpelz (Siegen) and Prof. Dr. Friedrich Krotz (Bremen) Ein Nachmittag über die Anfänge, das Ende und den Neuanfang der Kommunikationstheorie und Medienwissenschaft, ein Gespräch über Medien in der Post-Snowden-Ära, Massenmedien nach der Digitalisierung und die Gegenwart des Denkens in, über und mit Medien. Venue: Schloss Wahn, Gartensaal, Burgallee 2, 51147 Köln Porz-Wahn // Conference: Participatory in Games. Methodological Challenges // The conference addresses the matter of participatory media practices as playful appropriations within the current digital media culture. In a mediatised society, the technological objects become the stage for negotiations, their scripts afford or prevent varying degrees of political/cultural/social participation. Oftentimes hard- and software are converted and modified to devi­ate from the inscribed participation structures, whereby an aesthetic disassociation and a playful disturbance of the original functioning are frequently conducting such practices of appropriation. The aim of the conference is to explore and trace the shifting boundary between media production and use and to discuss concepts and methodologies that work within a playful participatory media culture. Thereby play does not signify a clearly separate mode of existence but has always been an essen­tial part of our culture. Computer game modding is taken as an example for playful encounters with technology that expands the assemblage of play in various and complex ways. Friday, April 8, 2016 10:00 a.m. | University of Cologne, Neues Seminargebäude, Room S21 Workshop: MOD Me if You Can! Artistic Research In-Games The presented examples of game-art and game-culture illustrate that computer games offer a myriad of different environments that manifest themselves in the moment of appropriation. The workshop invites participants to take tours through these en­vironments and leave individual traces on their way. Transpositions, substitutions, transcriptions and injections are some of the strategies that can be applied in practical exercises. With these practices, the participants gain access to artistic research in games. The workshop is led by Thomas Hawranke (Cologne), an artist, modder, lecturer at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne and PhD candidate at the Media Faculty, Bauhaus University Weimar. http://www.thomashawranke.com/ 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Talks and Discussions 2:00 p.m.: Benjamin Beil/Pablo Abend (Cologne): Participative Practices in Games. An Introduction 3:00 p.m.: Mirko-Tobias Schäfer (Utrecht): Ruling Users. The Art of Channelling User Activities 4:00 p.m.: Michael Nitsche (Atlanta): Crafting with Bits 5:00 p.m.: Thomas Malaby (Milwaukee): Running Diagnostics. Methodology in the Midst of Playful Processes Saturday, April 9, 2016 10:00 a.m. | University of Cologne, Alter Senatssaal Breakfast Club: Modding with Friedrich Kirschner (Berlin): How to Make People Play: Practical Advice for Devising Participatory Theatre Experiences