Creative Arts Senior Seminar (CA 178) | San José State University
For my Creative Arts senior capstone, I argue the need for feminist intersectional criticism in digital games. As part of my cohort's studies in Practice as Research, I also performed my research, which delves into and beyond my thesis and is based on Carolee Schneemann's Interior Scroll. The performance showcases a violent world, a game-verse and physical reality where non-hegemonic narratives are often violently ousted from the conversation.
Being in the Creative Arts also means recognizing and documenting our individual creative process. In April, I presented an in-progress report that highlighted where I was at re: my research, and what I planned to do for my creative component (as outlined by Dr. Shannon Rose Riley's text, Practice as Research.
"When we explore representation, identity, and violence as they relate to the game-verse, it is fair to say that the celebrated, commodified, and heteronormative language of video games represents and reifies American hegemony. By engaging a feminist intersectional perspective in digital game criticism, we can— at the very least— better understand and address the violent backlash that targets and oppresses marginalized identities and narratives in the game-verse, as well as our physical reality."
Performance as Research
Individual Studies (CA 180) | San José State University
Course description:
Representation, Identity, and Violence in Digital Games— A student-designed, student-driven course.
Project description: Game Criticism: Pokémon Go
This two-part video analysis of Pokémon Go [Niantic, 2016] explores augmented reality, physical reality, and the friction often associated with an individual’s obligation and care of the ‘self’ in both dimensions. The critique of this game considers: Does a player’s experience change based on gender, class, location, et cetera? How? Is there a narrative, character(s), interaction(s), et cetera?
Creativity & Creative Leadership (CA 176) | San José State University
Course description:
“A course focusing on mastering current theories about creativity, adapting theoretical knowledge for an individual/personal strategy, and embodying both the knowledge and strategy in a collaborative project.”
Project description: “The Road to Reward”
An exploration of creative leadership and the dynamism of collaboration.
Seminar in the Creative Process (CA 175) | San José State University
Course description:
“An exploration of the creative process across the creative domains and of the use of practice-based research in the humanities and creativity studies.”
Project description + link: Creativity Unblocker: “The Legendary Bow of Brünhilde”
A physical manifestation (a “magical” item) designed to engage the individual creative process.
Excerpt from Creativity Unblocker journal
I was casually walking along the Icelandic shoreline earlier this semester, when Björk came running up to me dressed in a very familiar way. She looked a little excited and frantic; without much explanation, she pleaded with me to take this ancient archer’s set. I stood there, befuddled.
She looked behind her, as if someone (or something) might be listening, and Björk whispered to me in a strange voice, “This is what you’ve been waiting for, Jessica. It will bring you strength in ways you’ve never known. You will be reminded of the beauty of the breathtakingly blue Icelandic shorelines, and it will consume you.” It was almost as if some ancient force had overtaken Björk.
She motioned with her hand and exclaimed, “Gaze into the shimmering gems to gain new perspective, knowing they were forged from the mythical and ancient glacial ices of my homeland.”
I was dizzy at this point, but I wasn’t sure why. This place was suddenly intoxicating.
Björk looked at the bow, “Ah, yes. These are earthly scented oils from here— my homeland. When my ancestors made this bow, they felt it was important to awaken many senses, as total awareness is what makes the best kind of archer. Breathe deeply, and also feel the various textures in the bow. The ancient bells will awaken another part of you, as time guides you to the things you are most determined to accomplish.”
Björk continued, “Remember who you aaaaare, Jessica.” Her voice became more echoed with each word, “Ah! Brünnhilde beckons! Stay true to yourself— let this ring serve to remind you of your own history. Embrace laughter; the ancient ones left a flower to remind you of the joyous times.”
“My ancestors wish that whomever uses this always make connections, where the importance of perspective, for example, cannot be had without the presence of discovery.”
She motioned to the various twine bindings, “Let these connections remind you that creativity is dynamic, and thus, so is your experience each time you command this bow. The courage and curiosity of the Jólakötturinn will guide you.”
With those final words, Björk disintegrated in front of my very eyes, like volcanic ash in the wind.
At my feet lay a single, pure white swan feather.
~fin~
The Arts in U.S. Society (CA 172) | San José State University
Course description:
“Study of American arts and artists in their aesthetic, social, and political contexts, focusing on 20th and 21st centuries. Arts examined include architecture, poetry, music, visual arts, dance, theatre, performance art, and fiction. Special emphasis on issues of cultural diversity.
Project description: “Silent Screams and the Everyday: Sexual Violence in Performance Art”
By calling attention to earlier performance artists, we are more equipped to analyze performance art as it relates to sexual violence in the 21st Century.
Writing for the Arts (CA 100W) | San José State University
Course description:
“Examination and practice of professional writing for the arts.”
Project description: “A Closer Look at the Everyday Self: Feminism Expressions in the Art of Marina Abramović”
Though Marina Abramović asserts she is not a feminist, this paper suggests that the greater context of Abramović’s performance work delves into a unique landscape of feminist principles; Abramović translates these principles into performances that explore aspects of the self, of spirituality, gender, culture, and so on, all the while infusing critical aesthetics of performance into work that expresses feminist principle.
Game Studies (ART 108) | San José State University
Course description:
“Introduction to the systems, design, history, and cultural analysis of games with emphasis on development, technological literacy, markets and impact on society. [Students will] read about, write about, play and design traditional paper based and video games.”
Project/Paper prototype description: “Stargate: Rise of the System Lords”— a printable board game.
The Tau’ri (Earth) Stargate team freed the people of the desert planet Abydos from the grip of the evil Goa’uld and Supreme System Lord, Ra. His sudden demise created a power vacuum among the other Goa’uld, a parasitic alien race pretending to be gods. Everywhere, Goa’uld factions are trying to rule over the Stargate network and control intergalactic territories.
College Choir and Opera Vignettes | Glendale Community College
Course description: a course in the appreciation and performance of standard choral literature, with special emphasis on principles of part-singing, vocal control, interpretation, diction, phrasing, and breath control. Public performances are required.”
Project: Amahl and the Night Visitors (Gian Carlo Menotti)
Character: Mother
Departing from the traditional choral repertoire, singers from the Glendale Community College Choir and Chamber Choir ensembles— under the direction of Dr. Jayne Campbell—rehearsed once per week to bring to the stage Opera Vignettes, featuring excerpts from well-known and lesser-known operas. Amahl and the Night Visitors, a one-act opera, was the first of its kind, and was commissioned and performed on live American by NBC Opera in the early 1950s.