Learning in Abolitionist Gaming

• In Event: Critical Game Literacies for the Abolition of White Supremacy and Hetero-Patriarchy

Abstract

Objectives
In this paper, we critically examine the increasingly significant role of video games as primary sites of youth learning, particularly in an era marked by technologically accelerated ecological and sociopolitical crises. We discuss how video games, now major cultural phenomena and sites of ideological contestation, both perpetuate harmful ideologies and foster radical alternatives to the status quo. Our objective is to shed light on the complex dynamics at play within the gaming world and to explore how these dynamics can be harnessed or redirected towards more equitable and liberatory ends.

Theoretical Perspectives
Our analysis is guided by an abolitionist perspective, which allows us to understand video games as complex spaces of learning and ideological contestation with far-reaching consequences beyond gaming communities. This perspective recognizes the potential of video games and digital media more broadly to either reinforce oppressive systems or to challenge and transform them (Discussant & Author, 2021). Utilizing the framework of social design experiments, we delve into the potential of video games to advance abolitionist pedagogical visions. These visions are centered on envisioning, presenting, and teaching radical alternatives necessary for the survival of our species. They challenge the status quo and invite players into imagined worlds that promote equity, justice, and liberation (Author & Colleague, 2019).

Data Sources
Our analysis draws from existing academic literature on video games and their impact on learning and ideologies, along with examples of ongoing abolitionist game development projects. We also incorporate insights from emerging news articles highlighting the use of video games by right-wing forces for educational and recruitment purposes. This diverse body of data allows us to examine the multifaceted ways in which video games are implicated in broader social and political dynamics (Colleague & Author, 2022).

Significance
In the face of resurgent fascism and climate genocide, the need to understand and critique the pedagogical visions embedded within video games is more urgent than ever. This paper underscores the importance of adopting theoretical and methodological approaches that can effectively address these challenges. By exploring the potential of video games to propagate abolitionist alternatives, we highlight the transformative power of video games in challenging the status quo and fostering a more equitable future. This exploration is crucial for understanding and leveraging the potential of video games to either challenge or reinforce existing social oppressions. Our findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on the role of digital media in education and society, and provide insights for educators, researchers, and policymakers interested in harnessing the power of video games for social justice.

Authors

• Roberto de Roock, University of California - Santa Cruz

• Matthew Coopilton, University of Southern California

• Joel De Jesus Lovos, University of California - Santa Cruz

• Brianna Mims, University of Southern California