About

The Studio for Mediating Play integrates critical research and creative practices with intersectional feminist theory to address pressing social and material issues through engagements with and about play. The studio treats play both as a significant cultural phenomenon of study as well as grounding for critical research and practice, exploring how play is shaped by and can probe existing systems of power. The Studio for Mediating Play draws inspiration from art, performance, and other studio-based practices. From designing experimental games to examining fandom and reception practices, The Studio for Mediating Play investigates how play both mediates and is mediated by cultural and material forces.

The Studio for Mediating Play is co-directed by Dr. Josef Nguyen and Dr. Hong-An Wu at The University of Texas at Dallas. While The Studio for Mediating Play is centrally housed at The University of Texas at Dallas, the studio welcomes active participation by external and remote collaborators interested in supporting the studio’s mission and projects.

For more information about The Studio for Mediating Play, to be added to our mailing list, or to join our Discord server, please contact Dr. Josef Nguyen at josef.nguyen@utdallas.edu and Dr. Hong-An Wu at hongan.wu@utdallas.edu.

Spring 2023 Meeting Schedule

Spring 2023 meetings for The Studio for Mediating Play will be held roughly bi-weekly on Wednesdays from 11am-12pm Central starting on Wednesday, 1 February 2023. Meetings will be held in hybrid format, in-person in ATC 1.709 and online on the SMP Discord server. Please contact Dr. Josef Nguyen at josef.nguyen@utdallas.edu and Dr. Hong-An Wu at hongan.wu@utdallas.edu for information regarding regular meeting schedule dates.

Please see the Events page for more information about specific special events.