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Art and technology: archiving video games for humanities research in university libraries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2018

Kelli Wood  and
David S. Carter
Kelli Wood
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Michigan, Dept. of the History of Art, Society of Fellows, 110 Tappan Hall, 855 South University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USAwoodkell@umich.edu
David S. Carter
Affiliation:
Video Game Archivist, Reference Services Librarian, University of Michigan Library, 2321C Duderstadt, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USAsuperman@umich.edu
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Abstract

Over the past half-century video games have become a significant part of our cultural environment, in part, by leading advances in both technology and artistic innovation. In recent years librarians and researchers have recognized these games as cultural objects that require collection and curation. Developing and maintaining collections of this fast moving and somewhat ephemeral media, however, poses challenges due to constantly advancing technology and a corresponding lack of consistent terminology. This article addresses the literature and critical issues surrounding collections of video games within libraries and presents a case study of the University of Michigan’s Computer and Video Game Archive (CVGA), one of the largest academic archives of its kind. Moreover, video games are situated in a humanistic approach to the field of game studies as the article draws on the relevance of methods from art history and film studies.

Type
Research Article
Information
Art Libraries Journal , Volume 43 , Issue 4 , October 2018 , pp. 185 - 195
Copyright
Copyright © ARLIS 2018 

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