Download or read book Playfully Rigid written by Claude Lichtenstein and published by Lars Muller Publishers. This book was released on 2007 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Necessity is the mother of invention, but therein lies a dilemma: What must a society do if it wishes to remain inventive, yet defines itself in terms of prosperity, not need? It must take a particular stance toward prosperity, even toward excess. Clarity and a systematic approach are parts of this stance, as is the designer's ability to endow objects with "esprit". Ingenuity and clarity are the two poles of a field of tension that produces an impression of ease and authority. This book is a collection of Swiss architecture, graphics, and design from 1950 to the present, viewed in terms of this creative polarity."--BOOK JACKET.
Download or read book A Study Guide for Max Frisch s The Firebugs written by Gale, Cengage Learning and published by Gale, Cengage Learning . This book was released on 2008 with total page 35 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Study Guide for Max Frisch 's "The Firebugs," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Drama For Students. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Drama For Students for all of your research needs.
Download or read book A Concise Companion to Visual Culture written by A. Joan Saab and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2021-03-08 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Provides an up-to-date overview of the present state Visual Cultural Studies, featuring new original content, topics, and methods The Wiley Blackwell Concise Companion to Visual Culture brings together original research by both established scholars and new voices in the dynamic field, exploring the history, current state, and possible future directions of visual cultural studies. Organized as a series of non-traditional keyword essays, this innovative volume engages readers with a diversity of ideas and perspectives to broaden and enrich their understanding of visual culture and its operations. This accessible, reader-friendly volume begins with a brief introduction to the history and practices of visual studies, featuring interviews and conversations with key figures such as W.J.T. Mitchell and Douglas Crimp. The majority of the text explores key concepts within a broad framework of history, ecologies, mediations, agencies, and politics while placing particular emphasis on interdisciplinarity and intersectionality. Essays cover keyword topics including Identities, Representation, Institutions, Architectures, Memes, Environment, Temporality, and many more. Offering a unique approach to the subject, this timely resource: Presents new work from a diverse group of scholars with a broad range of social, cultural, and generational perspectives Emphasizes the importance of activism and political urgency in humanities scholarship Discusses engaging objects and discourses beyond film and art, such as architecture, video games, political activism, and the nonhuman Highlights the diverse and interconnecting elements of visual culture scholarship Includes case studies and short introductions that provide context and reinforce core concepts The Wiley Blackwell Concise Companion to Visual Culture is essential reading for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars in the fields of visual studies, art history, film studies, and media studies.
Download or read book Historical Dictionary of Switzerland written by Leo Schelbert and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2014-05-21 with total page 663 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Switzerland's exceptional scenic beauty of valleys, lakes, and mountains, its central location on international trade routes, and its world famous banking system are just a few elements that have contributed to its rise in the global market. It consists of twenty-six member states, called cantons and it’s actively engaged in the maintenance of peace among nations. The history of the Swiss Confederation is as rich and varied as its culture and people. This updated second edition of Historical Dictionary of Switzerland features the nation's multicultural and democratic traditions and institutions, its complex history, and its people's involvement in past and present world affairs. This is done through a list of abbreviations and acronyms, a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, maps, a bibliography, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important persons, places, events, and institutions, as well as significant political, economic, social, and cultural aspects. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone who wants to know more about Switzerland.
Download or read book written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Play Matters written by Miguel Sicart and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2017-10-27 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why play is a productive, expressive way of being human, a form of understanding, and a fundamental part of our well-being. What do we think about when we think about play? A pastime? Games? Childish activities? The opposite of work? Think again: If we are happy and well rested, we may approach even our daily tasks in a playful way, taking the attitude of play without the activity of play. So what, then, is play? In Play Matters, Miguel Sicart argues that to play is to be in the world; playing is a form of understanding what surrounds us and a way of engaging with others. Play goes beyond games; it is a mode of being human. We play games, but we also play with toys, on playgrounds, with technologies and design. Sicart proposes a theory of play that doesn’t derive from a particular object or activity but is a portable tool for being—not tied to objects but brought by people to the complex interactions that form their daily lives. It is not separated from reality; it is part of it. It is pleasurable, but not necessarily fun. Play can be dangerous, addictive, and destructive. Along the way, Sicart considers playfulness, the capacity to use play outside the context of play; toys, the materialization of play—instruments but also play pals; playgrounds, play spaces that enable all kinds of play; beauty, the aesthetics of play through action; political play—from Maradona's goal against England in the 1986 World Cup to the hactivist activities of Anonymous; the political, aesthetic, and moral activity of game design; and why play and computers get along so well.
Download or read book Against Flow written by Braxton Soderman and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2021-04-27 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A critical discussion of the experience and theory of flow (as conceptualized by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) in video games. Flow--as conceptualized by the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi--describes an experience of "being in the zone," of intense absorption in an activity. It is a central concept in the study of video games, although often applied somewhat uncritically. In Against Flow, Braxton Soderman takes a step back and offers a critical assessment of flow's historical, theoretical, political, and ideological contexts in relation to video games. With close readings of games that implement and represent flow, Soderman not only evaluates the concept of flow in terms of video games but also presents a general critique of flow and its sibling, play.
Download or read book Living Skillfully written by Dale S. Wright and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This book attempts to articulate a contemporary philosophy of life drawing upon Buddhist resources from the Vimalakåirti Såutra. Among the major themes in this Mahayana Buddhist scripture is the "skillful means" required to live a healthy and undeluded life. The book adopts that theme as a means of developing a practical approach to contemporary Buddhist life. Following many of the brilliant stories in the sutra, this book attempts to provide clear explanations for the primary Buddhist teachings and the relationships that bind them all together into an inspiring way of living. Among the questions addressed are: who is the Buddha, how is a worldview of change and contingency applicable to current life, what does it mean to claim that there is no permanent self, what are the primary characteristics of an admirable Buddhist life, how is freedom conceived in Buddhism, and how do all of these themes help us address contemporary issues such as global warming, gender identities, political dichotomies, the global economy, and more. Although historical questions do arise in the book, its primary purpose if contemporary and practical, an effort to say clearly how this text helps us stake out a way of living for contemporary, global citizens"--
Download or read book The Gameful World written by Steffen P. Walz and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2015-01-16 with total page 687 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What if every part of our everyday life was turned into a game? The implications of “gamification.” What if our whole life were turned into a game? What sounds like the premise of a science fiction novel is today becoming reality as “gamification.” As more and more organizations, practices, products, and services are infused with elements from games and play to make them more engaging, we are witnessing a veritable ludification of culture. Yet while some celebrate gamification as a possible answer to mankind's toughest challenges and others condemn it as a marketing ruse, the question remains: what are the ramifications of this “gameful world”? Can game design energize society and individuals, or will algorithmic incentive systems become our new robot overlords? In this book, more than fifty luminaries from academia and industry examine the key challenges of gamification and the ludification of culture—including Ian Bogost, John M. Carroll, Bernie DeKoven, Bill Gaver, Jane McGonigal, Frank Lantz, Jesse Schell, Kevin Slavin, McKenzie Wark, and Eric Zimmerman. They outline major disciplinary approaches, including rhetorics, economics, psychology, and aesthetics; tackle issues like exploitation or privacy; and survey main application domains such as health, education, design, sustainability, or social media.
Download or read book First Person written by Noah Wardrip-Fruin and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2004 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The relationship between story and game, and related questions of electronic writing and play, examined through a series of discussions among new media creators and theorists.
Download or read book Design Attitude written by Kamil Michlewski and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-03-09 with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Design Attitude is a book for those who want to scratch beneath the surface and explore the impact design and designers have in organisations. It offers an alternative view on the sources of success and competitive advantage of companies such as Apple, where design plays a leading role. It sheds light on the cultural dynamics within organisations, where professional designers have a significant presence and influence. At its heart, the book asks a question: what is the nature of designers’ contribution that is truly unique to them as professionals? To answer this deceptively simple question the author combines a multitude of hours of ethnographic study inside the design community; in-depth interviews with executives and designers from Apple, IDEO, Wolff Olins, Philips Design, and Nissan Design; and a follow-up quantitative study. Since the author comes from a management and not a design background, the book offers a different perspective to most publications in the area of Design Thinking. It is a mirror held up to the community, rather than a voice from within. Design Attitude makes the compelling argument that looking at the type of the culture designers produce, rather than the type of processes or products they create, is potentially a more fruitful way of profiling the impact of design in organisations. With design being recognised as an important strategic framework by companies, not-for-profit organisations, and governments alike, this book is a distinct and timely contribution to the debate.
Download or read book Exploring Materiality in Childhood written by Maarit Alasuutari and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-11-24 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Exploring Materiality in Childhood: Body, Relations and Space explores the multiple ways that childhood and materiality are intertwined and assembled. Bringing together a diverse range of authors, this topical book makes a scholarly contribution to our understanding of the entanglements of materiality and childhoods in international contexts. Chapters explore how various environments and material resources, including technologies and consumer goods, affect children’s lives. The book caters to a diverse range of theories, in sociomaterialist, posthumanist, post-anthropocentric and more-than-human research, critically exploring the boundaries of these theoretical approaches with diverse empirical cases. These wide ranges of perspectives develop alternatives to human-centred approaches in understanding children and childhoods. With its diverse theoretical and methodological choices, the book also serves as a versatile example for how to conduct research with children and on childhood. This book will be of great interest for academics, researchers, and postgraduate students in childhood studies, early childhood education, social sciences, cultural sciences and sociology.
Download or read book Rules of Play written by Katie Salen Tekinbas and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2003-09-25 with total page 689 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An impassioned look at games and game design that offers the most ambitious framework for understanding them to date. As pop culture, games are as important as film or television—but game design has yet to develop a theoretical framework or critical vocabulary. In Rules of Play Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman present a much-needed primer for this emerging field. They offer a unified model for looking at all kinds of games, from board games and sports to computer and video games. As active participants in game culture, the authors have written Rules of Play as a catalyst for innovation, filled with new concepts, strategies, and methodologies for creating and understanding games. Building an aesthetics of interactive systems, Salen and Zimmerman define core concepts like "play," "design," and "interactivity." They look at games through a series of eighteen "game design schemas," or conceptual frameworks, including games as systems of emergence and information, as contexts for social play, as a storytelling medium, and as sites of cultural resistance. Written for game scholars, game developers, and interactive designers, Rules of Play is a textbook, reference book, and theoretical guide. It is the first comprehensive attempt to establish a solid theoretical framework for the emerging discipline of game design.
Download or read book Exposing the Magic of Design written by Jon Kolko and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2011-03-07 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Design synthesis is a way of thinking about complicated, multifaceted problems of a large scale with a repeatable degree of success. Design synthesis methods can be applied in business, with the goal of producing new and compelling products and services, and they can be applied in government, with the goal of changing culture and bettering society. In both contexts, however, there is a need for speed and for aggressive action. This text is immediately relevant, and is more relevant than ever, as we acknowledge and continually reference a feeling of an impending and massive change. Simply, this text is intended to act as a practitioner's guide to exposing the magic of design.
Download or read book Emerging Research and Trends in Interactivity and the Human Computer Interface written by Blashki, Katherine and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2013-10-31 with total page 580 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With a variety of emerging and innovative technologies combined with the active participation of the human element as the major connection between the end user and the digital realm, the pervasiveness of human-computer interfaces is at an all time high. Emerging Research and Trends in Interactivity and the Human-Computer Interface addresses the main issues of interest within the culture and design of interaction between humans and computers. By exploring the emerging aspects of design, development, and implementation of interfaces, this book will be beneficial for academics, HCI developers, HCI enterprise managers, and researchers interested in the progressive relationship of humans and technology.
Download or read book Play written by Lynn E. Cohen and published by University Press of America. This book was released on 2011-12-16 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) (www.tasp.org) is the sponsor of volume twelve in the Play & Culture Studies series. TASP is a professional group of interdisciplinary researchers who study play. Polyphony, defined as having many tones or voices, was used by the Russian philosopher Mikhail Mikhailovich Bakhtin to describe the immense plurality of experiences in relationships. The chapters in volume 12 of Play & Culture Studies address the polyphony or many voices in the study of play from an interdisciplinary cadre of scholars in the fields of anthropology, education, psychology, linguistics, and history. In this time of globalization, hyper-capitalism, and discourses that disqualify children’s play, we invite the reader to participate in diverse ways of thinking about play and pedagogy. To this end, Play, Volume 12 addresses research methodology, contemporary theories, technology, and advocacy. Applications to practice and policy implications are presented.
Download or read book Basic Psychic Development written by John Friedlander and published by Weiser Books. This book was released on 2012-08-01 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Unlock your psychic ability with this powerful, easy-to-use guide to energy awareness. Basic Psychic Development offers step-by-step exercises that explain how to understand and use auras, chakras, and clairvoyance to make the invisible world visible. Based on the work of Lewis Bostwick, founder of the Berkeley Psychic Institute, Basic Psychic Development encourages an open, playful approach to experiencing the energies. Basic Psychic Development shows how to:Read aurasUse intuition to develop clairvoyanceOvercome blocks and boundary issuesDevelop meditation and breathing exercisesGive chakra therapy
