Collaborative Video Game Design as an Act of Social Justice

Abstract

This research is about bringing social justice art education into classrooms through the medium of video games and exploring the ways in which video game design can be a learning tool that can make contributions to and engage in social justice work. Drawing from a case-study research project with a small group of middle school students, through the lens of critical pedagogy informed by recent work by Dipti Desai, this project examines how learning happens through dialogue and knowledge weaving. Findings have led me to consider the potential of this type of video game design as a site of resistance and transformation in art education.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 I am indebted to the group of middle school students at AMY Northwest, especially Black Panther for his constant enthusiasm and wealth of imagination; Walter Myrick, the art teacher at AMY Northwest, for welcoming me into his classroom and helping me to problem solve; and Jodan Floyd, the principal, for her unrelenting support and easygoing, student-centered nature. Sierra Kirby, our art intern from the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, did a wonderful job of creating the art for The Air We Breathe (2020), and of bringing any drawings contributed by the 8th graders to life. Thank you to everyone at the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio for the rich intellectual support and beyond. I am grateful to Kelly Boudreau from the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology for connecting me with both Sierra and Ashley Rezvani. Most of all, I am indebted to Ashley for being PERFECT for this project, having teaching skills and a passion for social justice—and she built the game! I learned so much from her and will forever be thankful.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

 No conflicts of interest to report.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Presidential Humanities and Arts Research Program Award from the Office of the Vice President for Research at Temple University; a Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio Faculty Fellowship Award, Temple University; and Tyler School of Art and Architecture.