Department of Anthropology
Trent University
ANTH-3745H COIS-3745H – Virtual Worlds
2010 FA
Peterborough
Professor Paul Manning paulmanning@trentu.ca
Office: CC E.1.3 Office Hours: Wednesday 2:30-3:30 Telephone: x7271
Course Description: The course will focus on virtual worlds, massively multiple online games (MMOGs), and social networking sites. ‘Virtual’ sociality is now an increasingly taken for granted aspect of everyday sociality. This course develops tools and theories for investigating these online communities and their increasingly fundamental impact on human relations.
Specific topics may vary from year to year. In 2010 this course will focus exclusively on the ethnography of MMOGs in order that the students will be able to engage in a parallel online ethnography and learn ethnographic methods.
Course Format:
Lecture/Seminar Wednesdays 1600-1850 G 108
Course Evaluation:
Minimum course requirements:
Completion of all assignments and attendance 60%
Preparation (Weekly) 10%
Blog (biweekly) 10 %
Paper (individual) 10%
Group Ethnographic Project 10%
Due dates of papers are listed in the syllabus (on webCT).