Ludic Method Symposium Part 1

A Free Play Introduction
Date: 26.03.2025
Room: Auditorium VZA 7
Time: 10:30-16:00
Address: Vordere Zollamtstraße 7, 1030 Wien

The symposium collects the contributions made to the Ludic Method, ludic research practice lectures hosted at the department of Experimental Game Cultures by Margarete Jahrmann and Thomas Brandstetter.

The aim of this new ludic method is to develop new cultural techniques to continuously innovate game dynamics and methods of art as research. Performative practice and installations that function as experimental systems are steps that lead to the next level in ludic method research: the production of artistic artefacts as epistemic objects that enable a sustainable flow of discourse.
New paths of artistic research, experimental game, and arts are connecting to systemic and experimental thinking, in a “psycholudic approach”, to contribute to a more balanced and democratic world. 

This symposium will contain contributions by a diverse and international set of authors, practicing artists as well as theoreticians and game studies experts.

Detailed Programme:

Mary Flanagan. Play our way out, play our way in: Speculative Play (or speculative future play) in Dystopian Times.
How should artists and gamers respond in environmental and political crises? Creative people struggle to make a difference and see what is “worth it” in the face of daunting global challenges. Play, however, invites us to initiate a profound shift from current norms and situations. This talk sets out playful challenges among social, ecological, technical domains to make a radical departure from the status quo. https://maryflanagan.com

Jesper Juul. The Dystopia of Play: Games, Freedom, and the Plague of Optimization.  
The common image of play and games is one of wonderful freedom and open experimentation, yet there are also two recurring fears about the value of play. The traditional fear is that playing is fundamentally frivolous. The newer fear is that playing leads players towards narrowminded optimization, forgetting both beauty and human values as they descend into a purely rational state of mind. In this talk, Jesper will tell a history of the value of play, as expressed in the history of video games, from arcade games to big-budget titles, to casual games, and recent experimental indie games. https://www.jesperjuul.net

Marijam Did. Everything To Play For. How Videogames are Changing the World. 
The lecture will examine the political Efficacy of videogames - an under-examined sphere within the impactful games discourse. How can they become political tools, with actual ability to drive real-world change beyond being mere signifiers? We will critically analyse various games titles alongside case studies from other artistic media, in particular Fine Art, and will compare the best practices and failures. By utilising learnings from thinkers such as Claire Bishop, Nicholas Bourriaud, Walter Benjamin and Theodor Adorno this talk will challenge attendees to rethink what political engagement through play could look like, and what it is not. https://www.marijamdid.com

Shalev Moran. Limits And Demonstrations: Games Doing Politics. 
Game designer and multimedia artist Shalev Moran will present three of his previous videogame works, each tackling political realities in different ways. From commercial titles to absolute indie, from engaging with old histories to ongoing current events. The presentation will examine different creative strategies in making "political" games, their potential, as well as their limitations. https://www.shalevmoran.com

Zuraida Buter. Play in Practice: Exploring The Playful Arts Community 
Over the years independent game developers and playful artists from different fields have created alternative ways of playing with the world, with games and with each other, bridging the worlds of art, technology, design and games. Having been involved in several festivals and events over the years and connecting many artists Zuraida will take the audience on a journey through several of these projects, festivals and works of playful artists encouraging new perspectives on playful approaches. https://www.zo-ii.com