For Project 1, I plan to explore how games provide a significant space for the self’s interaction with itself. Specifically I want to explore the role of ignorance and knowledge in the area of play, and how knowing more or less about how to play a game influences the enjoyability of the player. The philosophical question thus posed by this is when is ignorance bliss, and when is it not? This question can be answered not only by gamers, but also by politicians and films, which will be used as reference points and analogies. I also want to find/conduct surveys in order to provide statistical analysis for the hypothesis as well.
Thesis: It may seem that one’s ability to enjoy an interaction with a game is based on how a game relates to one’s preferences in game style and design. However, it is actually related to one’s level of ignorance in regards to the game, as well as their personality type and emotional desires.
Primary text:
Myers, Steve. “Myers‐Briggs Typology and Jungian Individuation.” Journal of Analytical Psychology, vol. 61, no. 3, 2016, pp. 289–308. Print.
Secondary text:
Sitzmann, Traci, and Stefanie K. Johnson. “When Is Ignorance Bliss? The Effects of Inaccurate Self-Assessments of Knowledge on Learning and Attrition.”Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2011, pp. 192-207. Digital.
