Critical Game Literacies for the Abolition of White Supremacy and Hetero-Patriarchy

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This panel discussion will share theoretical frameworks and empirical findings around how young people develop critical game literacy skills, defined as the skills needed to play, analyze, modify, and design games in ways that challenge systemic oppression. It will focus on how Black, Latine, and LGBTQIA+ gamers have critiqued systemic racism and hetero-patriarchy and playfully imagined futures where they are abolished, through a tabletop gaming community, an online “coven”, various indie game design projects focused on abolitionism (the movement to abolish police, prisons, and related forms of carceral infrastructure), and a critical game jam where youth designed abolitionist and Afrofuturist games. The papers will also propose ways that educators can design learning environments to support critical game literacies.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Media, Culture, and Learning

Chair

• Matthew Coopilton, University of Southern California

Papers

• Learning in Abolitionist Gaming - 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

• Design Principles for Critical Game Literacy Learning Environments: Findings From a Critical Game Jam - Matthew Coopilton, University of Southern California

• “Cracks in the Code”: Developing Abolitionist Practices in Video Gaming Communities - Arturo Cortez, University of California - Davis

• Queer Youth of Color Negotiate Commitments to Justice Through Aesthetic Literacies During Speculative Roleplaying - Scott Storm, University at Albany - SUNY; Karis Michelle Jones, Baylor University

Discussant

• Antero Garcia, Stanford University