Cultural criticism for a new era
Jacob Geller is a prominent video essayist on YouTube who has broad appeal. Based on computer games, he gets million of viewers to embrace in-depth analyses in which he romps through topics such as fear and art, architecture, politics and social issues.
Meet him in Oslo on 12 February in a panel discussion with Norwegian journalists, as they discuss how cultural journalism can be rejuvenated without being light-weight or trivial.
There will also be a workshop featuring Jacob Geller in Oslo on 14 February.
You can see todays panel discussion streamed here:
Panel discussion from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, 12 February:
In his gaming analyses, video essayist Jacob Geller (30) explores computer games in new and surprising ways. He is an important reference in discussions, criticism and reviews of computer games, and a key participant in discussions about the significance of gaming media as expressions of culture. He also covers cultural issues in a broader sense.
The video essay ‘Games, Schools, and Worlds Designed for Violence’ offers a good introduction to Jacob Geller. In it, he compares architecture that gives the player cover in shooting games with new school buildings that have similar designs and are intended to provide cover for children during a school shooting:
Fritt Ord wishes to use this event to introduce a new type of gaming criticism and new forms of cultural journalism.
- Lecture by video essayist Jacob Geller
- Response/comments by critic and journalist Asbjørn Slettemark
- Panel discussion featuring Jacob Geller, Asbjørn Slettemark, cultural journalist Elise Dybvig (Morgenbladet) and Rune Håkonsen, head of critics’ editorial staff at NRK. Moderator: Frida Hemstad Danmo (game reviewer, LevelUp)
Watch the livestream of his talk, or watch the recording later here or on the Fritt Ord Foundation’s YouTube page.
Workshop with Jacob Geller
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, 14 February
Would you like to learn how to reach more people with cultural criticism? Fritt Ord invites the public to a workshop on how to talk about gaming, featuring Jacob Geller, famous for his in-depth video essays on computer games and other aspects of culture.
The event will take a practical approach to cultural criticism, with contributions from Jacob Geller, Kari Martin Hogsnes and Tanya Laolapha Pettersen from LevelUp. Martin Bergesen will be the moderator. The author of a book on computer games, he has covered the field as a journalist for many years.
During the workshop, there will be an opportunity to work on one’s own ideas and to solve practical assignments, in dialogue and with feedback from Geller and the other speakers.
The workshop will be a good fit if you have experience of writing/speaking about computer games, or if you could envisage yourself working in that field. Whether you express yourself through text, or sound and images, the workshop will offer some useful tools for your toolbox.
(The event is fully subscribed)
