Announcements – New SXSW Panel & ARP Survey
by Latoya Peterson
SXSW 2009 was great, and our panel on “Can Social Media End Racism” went over well. (If you missed it, the link leads to the overview and where you can download the podcast.)
Now, the voting for 2010 is open, and I pitched a new panel:
Social Justice and Video Games
Organizer:
Latoya Peterson, Racialicious.com
Description:
This panel would look at racism and sexism in game design from the view of those in the industry and players. It will discuss solutions to create more inclusive games and work/online environments in a fun, interactive style conversation.
Questions
Answered:1. Why do we need to be concerned with social justice and video games?
2. Why do people say video games are racist?
3. Why do people say video games are sexist?
4. Why don’t more minorities/women work in gaming?
5. Why aren’t more minorities/women playing games online?
6. How can I diversify my work force?
7. What should developers keep in mind when planning a game?
8. How do marketers avoid problematic representations of race and gender?
9. What are some examples of the problems?
10. How do we combat stereotypes?Level:
Intermediate
Category:
Social Issues, User Experience, Video Games
Type:
Panel
Event:
Interactive 2010Latoya Peterson
Co-panelists for this event would include N’Gai Croal and Naomi Clark. Other possible panelists include Professor Andre Brock.
Please help us get there this year. You can vote here:
Even if you aren’t planning to attend, you can still vote – SXSW releases podcasts of all the presentations, so you can still receive the benefits of our panel.
Also, while you’re voting, please head over to the Anti-Racist Parent survey. Here’s a message from Tami, the editor of ARP:
You’ll notice that this morning I posted a link to a brief survey on ARP. As part of our efforts to improve our blog, we want to assess what topics are of most value to anti-racist parents. We also hope to get a demographic snapshot of who reads ARP and who doesn’t. I am hoping that each of you–columnists and contributors–might also post a link to the survey on your blogs. Again, our hope in the future is to gain a wider audience for ARP, so it is important that we hear from those beyond regular readers of the site.
Once we have gathered survey results, I hope to share some highlights of parental racial attitudes and desires.
Thanks for your help!
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Fiqah wrote:
That survey was great (I know, I like taking them, I’m kind of a freak). It’s important to know your demographic. Is there something similar planned for Racialicious?
Posted 21 Aug 2009 at 11:19 am ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@Fiqah –
Yes, and it’s totally my fault we haven’t done it yet. I’m aiming for Sept.
Posted 21 Aug 2009 at 11:46 am ¶
Fiqah wrote:
@LDP: Awesome.
Posted 21 Aug 2009 at 12:11 pm ¶
urbia wrote:
Interesting survey, and I’ll add, right up my alley.
4. Why don’t more minorities/women work in gaming?
As someone who’s been getting in, I can say we’re being actively discriminated against. I even find myself scoffing at the way that is phrased. The real question should be,
4. What is preventing minorities/women from working in the industry and what is removing them once they get inside, and/or preventing them from being established?
Posted 23 Aug 2009 at 10:59 pm ¶
Jocelyn wrote:
Neato. I’m a minority female working in the games industry. I don’t feel discriminated against at all, but maybe I’ve just been incredibly lucky. In fact, I feel like I have an advantage because so many game companies are trying to be inclusive these days, especially in respect to gender. Hope you get the panel!
Posted 26 Aug 2009 at 7:50 pm ¶