Second Person: Role-Playing and Story in Games and Playable Media

MIT Press has just published Second Person: Role-Playing and Story in Games and Playable Media. Edited by Pat Harrigan and ELO VP Noah Wardrip-Fruin, the book includes contributions by ELO board members Helen Thorington, Talan Memmott, and Nick Montfort — as well as a diverse collection of writers, game designers, computer scientists, improv actors, media artists, and more. The book’s introduction and table of contents are available online.

Technologist / Online Editor Sought for Blackbird at Virginia Commonwealth U.

Department of English
Virginia Commonwealth University
Collateral Instructor, Associate Technologist/Online Editor

We seek to hire a collateral faculty member who will serve as production editor for Blackbird, our award-winning online journal of literature and the arts, and will provide support and development for the interdisciplinary PhD program in Media, Art, and Text. This person will serve as an educator and developer for the production facility supporting both of these and other departmental efforts in media and technology, and will act as associate site manager. The position is a twelve-month renewable appointment beginning spring 2007. MFA or master’s degree required; PhD desirable. The candidate must demonstrate mastery—creative and practical—in at least two areas of multimodal (new media) writing and/or production, such as online publication, Web design, digital photography, audio production, and video production. Proficiency in Adobe/Macromedia products is an advantage. The candidate must have excellent writing and oral communication skills and a demonstrated interest in literary/artistic endeavors; editing experience is strongly preferred. Teaching/training experience in any of the above areas is a significant plus. The person will work closely with the PhD director and the Technology Coordinator to develop and lead workshops and training sessions for students and faculty; the position includes the opportunity for teaching.

Send application, c.v., and dossier including three letters of recommendation and a portfolio demonstrating experience in teaching or training as well as containing examples of relevant work in multimodal/new media and/or Web production to Terry Oggel, Chair, Department of English, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2005. Applications will be reviewed starting in late-January and will continue until position is filled. This position is contingent upon funding. VCU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

http://www.blackbird.vcu.edu/

May 2-3: MITH/ELO Symposium on the Future of Electronic Literature

MITH and the Electronic Literature Organization are pleased to announce a public symposium on the Future of Electronic Literature, May 2 and 3 at the University of Maryland, College Park, with co-sponsorship from the University Libraries and Department of English. The keynote speakers will be Kate Hayles (John Charles Hillis Professor of Literature at UCLA) and Kenneth Thibodeau (Director of Electronic Records Archives Program, National Archives and Records Administration). In addition to the keynotes and associated panels, we are planning an electronic literature slam on the evening of May 2. A number of ELO Board members and other writers and artists will be in attendance; watch the Web site linked above for more details soon, but in the meantime save the date!