Articles by author: Brock University

  • Brock game jam series puts spotlight on motherhood

    MEDIA RELEASE: February 13 2024 – R0019

    Brock University Assistant Professor Sarah Stang is on a mission to make video games accessible for everyone, especially mothers.

    A gamer, game scholar and mother herself, Stang is organizing an innovative two-day workshop aiming to break through barriers that might prevent mothers from exploring their love for — or curiosity about — video games.

    Hosted by Brock’s Department of Digital Humanities, the Mother of All Game Jams will take place Saturday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Feb. 25 in the Rankin Family Pavilion at the University’s main campus.

    It’s not often game jams — where participants try to make video games from scratch — carry the theme of motherhood and maternal identity, as mothers are often ignored by the video game industry, Stang said.

    “Current research across Canada, the U.S. and U.K. exploring how many moms play video games shows that the average age of a gamer is 34, and that’s split 50/50 between men and women,” she said. “This surprises a lot of people.”

    To help mothers participate in the event, Stang felt strongly about offering free child care on site for both facilitators and attendees.

    “The game industry is not designed to be accessible for mothers, so offering free child care so moms can focus on their skills development is one way we are working to change the norm,” she said.

    Incorporating themes of feminism and maternal identity, Stang said the event will be facilitated in a way that is inclusive, collaborative and accessible for beginners and is open to anyone curious about how to make a game or exploring a unique theme through interactive media.

    “This game jam is all about praxis, combining theory and practice to create a supportive and fun environment where participants not only feel comfortable, but encouraged, to try new things,” Stang said.

    The game jam is presented in collaboration with Brock Library’s Makerspace, where participants can also make traditional non-digital games, such as board or card games using 3D printing and laser cutting.

    “We are very open to people coming with no experience in making any kind of game,” Stang said. “If you want to try, we will hold your hand.”

    Everyone is welcome to attend the workshops. “You don’t have to be a mother and you don’t have to be a woman. You might identify as a trans-mother or queer-mother, or even just feel connected to maternal identity through care work. Or maybe you’re just generally interested in the topic,” she said.

    The game jam will culminate in a series of showcases at the Brock Library and a public event on Mother’s Day weekend at the St. Catharines Public Library where workshop participants will be invited to share their experiences with the community.

    The game jam is drop-in friendly and will include full catering for both days and free on-site child care provided by a certified Brock Education student. To register, please visit Eventbrite.

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

    * Doug Hunt, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Brock University dhunt2@brocku.ca or 905-941-6209

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    Categories: Media releases

  • Red dress display, event to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls

    MEDIA RELEASE: February 12 2024 – R0018

    Empty red dresses hung throughout Brock University, paired with a day of learning on campus, will honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people this week.

    Organized by Brock’s Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement, the Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre and Niagara College, the initiative will see dresses hung at the University’s main campus and its Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, as well as at Niagara College, from Monday, Feb. 12 to Friday, Feb. 16.

    The display is part of the REDress Project, an initiative that began as an art installation by Métis artist Jaime Black at the University of Winnipeg in 2011 to signify the loss of thousands of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit, lesbian, gay, trans, bisexual, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGTBQQIA) people to colonial violence.

    Hadiyaˀdagénhahs Director Cindy Biancaniello said seeing the display at Brock each year is a powerful experience.

    “We know that the spirits of these people fill the dresses, and our hearts go out to the families who have never found their relatives,” she said.

    A related in-person event will be held at Brock’s Pond Inlet on Wednesday, Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gathering will include songs, a panel discussion, a catered lunch, a jingle dress dance, participatory workshops and further exploration of the day’s significance throughout the afternoon.

    Robyn Bourgeois, Brock’s Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement, will lead a workshop that will use faceless dolls to raise awareness of those who are missing or have been murdered.

    Bourgeois said the violence is not confined to the past.

    “It continues to be important to do this work because Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people continue to be murdered or disappear,” she said.

    Bourgeois said she hopes the proceedings will inspire people to take further action.

    “While awareness is an essential starting point, action is necessary to create change,” she said. “Coming out to REDress is a great way for folx to learn about what they can do to support this movement.”

    Additional information and registration details for the Wednesday, Feb. 14 event can be found on the REDress Day 2024 ExperienceBU page.

    Media are invited to attend all portions of the event on Wednesday, Feb. 14, however, the panel discussion may not be filmed.

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

    * Doug Hunt, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Brock University dhunt2@brocku.ca or 905-941-6209

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    Categories: Media releases