[Air-L] Lecture and Panel: Black Game Studies

[Gerald Voorhees]

Dear friends and colleagues,

Please join us for two upcoming events (online or in-person) hosted the
University of Waterloo Games Institute:

1. On Wednesday, 20 September from 11AM-12:30PM EDT/UTC+4: Emerging Voices
in Black Game Studies
<https://uwaterloo.ca/games-institute/events/panel-emerging-voices-black-games-studies>,
featuring Dr. Akil Fletcher, Cyan DeVeaux, and Dr. Steven
Dashiell. Register for free using this Eventbrite link
<https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/710305652327?aff=oddtdtcreator>.

This panel highlights emerging scholars in Black game studies. Panelists
will present recent and/or ongoing work, sharing a glimpse of the emerging
research questions animating the field. Topics include Black worldbuilding
in and across games (Fletcher), perceptions of Black male exceptionalism in
gaming cultures (Dashiell), and the relationship between avatar
representation and Black user experience in social VR (DeVeaux).

2. On Monday, 25 September from 1PM-2:30PM EDT/UTC+4: Black Virtuality
<https://uwaterloo.ca/games-institute/events/panel-emerging-voices-black-games-studies>,
a lecture by A.M. Darke. Register for free using this Eventbrite link
<https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/710316966167?aff=oddtdtcreator>.

Across digital media, Black people are portrayed in ways that are
derogatory and harmful–if we are depicted at all. The representation of
afro-textured hair is noticeably limited, with options ranging from
comically large afros, unstyled “dread” locs, and misshapen cornrows.
Through projects like ‘Ye or Nay? and the Open Source Afro Hair Library,
artist A.M. Darke explores the consumption of Black bodies and the
construction of a Black virtuality. In this talk, Darke shares a critical
and liberatory approach for engaging marginalized communities in games and
digital media.

Best regards,

Gerald