Challenging received "truths" about gender roles. Tropes from two other presentations by these authors. Challenging the very definition of competition. Important to do in order to not follow the fallacious Male=Competition / Female=Cooperation definitions. (Montbello teacher Ms. Baker should know about this all too well)

 

The critique here is that the heritage – or habitual – definition of who competes and who cooperates will lead us to false conclusions.

 

Interested in "Forbidden Games" (references Salen, Zimmerman & Frasca). Pair "It's Just A Game" with a knowing WINK. The oscillation between in- and out- of game is self conscious. The quickest example for this is Twister for Poremba. The game is an alibi for socially contentious behavior. Would like to rethink the term "Forbidden" in the phrase for this kind of oscillation. The word is so normatively charged. Makes it hard to use the term productively. Would like to propose the word "Brink" as being an extreme edge or verge; or, 2 a crucial or critical point, especially of a situation beyond which success or catastrophe occurs (dictonary.com). [so, Brink Games ?]. Poremba will try to map this onto Salen + Zimmerman's implicit/explicit rules across game/social spaces. The Brink here seems to be a postmodern strategy, the oscillation between looking at, looking through, always, and already. Poremba argues that the matrix (implicit/explicitxgame/social) doesn't necessarily afford the possibiltiy for the brink. She proposes a Breach, a breaking of the magic circle (?)

Talks about "Intimate Controllers" project (Not Safe For Schools, Parental Discretion/Consent Required to follow that thread) in this Brinksmanship.

Proposes playing a "non Brink Game" as a "Brink Game", Poremba's example is Scrabble(R) where the words are supposed to be devoid of meaning.

Poremba is interested in the critical potential of Brink Games, because by design they create fissures in the foundations and structures of non-game realities; present a higher level reflective stance.

Last Call Poker (Alternate Reality Game) a large portion takes place in cemetaries.

JFK Reloaded, a ballistics simulation that is uninteresting until the representations embedded are familiar historical people in a particular historical setting.

 

Lori experiences tech difficulties as she hooks her Mac to the video projector cable. She doesn't exhibit the Meta-Skill and shows a little irritability at the tech support folks. A cable wiggle gets her up and going.

Putting Social Critique into ACTION, especially Boalian Theatre (Augusto Boal) Spontaneity, improvistation, intuition are important according to Ms Sheyba. Improv exercises are important. These are theorized through theatre. 

Boal created "Forum Theatre". Audiences are allowed to intervene on the production, live, in performance(s). 

Sheyba and her colleague David Diamond use technology and games within – and to facilitate – forum theatre. 

For her doctoral research she is proposing the creation of a Gamaturgy.