Adventures in live art game research : towards a theory of definition

Abstract

Drawing from major game studies theorists and performance scholars, this thesis seeks to merge these worlds and combine lexicons of Live Art and ludology. First, this thesis provides an account of my engagement with the definitions of key terms “Live Art” and “game” and then briefly summarises the arc of my research surrounding my focal question: “What is a Live Art Game?” Second, through engaging with the notion of Live Art as “a strategy for inclusion,” I excavate Greg Costikyan’s work on the concept of a game in order to analyse my video game performance Adventures of Harriharri – Episode II (AoHH – Ep. 2). In doing so, I illustrate the relationship between the fields of games and Live Art, with the goal of establishing a language for discussing and understanding games within the practice of Live Art. Third, I explore the metagames of inclusivity and diversity surrounding AoHH – Ep.2 in order to demonstrate how Live Art Games can operate both as a practice-based research method and a critical pedagogical tool. In the final chapter, I examine the 3D body of my video game avatar Harriharri as a site of experimentation, freedom, and becoming. In conclusion, I propose my own definition of a Live Art Game and propose avenues for future research in the realm of Live Art Game design. This thesis is intended as a beginner’s guide for the Live Artist interested in expanding their practice into games or for the game developer seeking to draw from the affordances of performance.