CCR

Fall Research Student - Anthropology

Back to Social Sciences Opportunity Directory - VIU

Description

This position is sponsored by the VIU Anthropology department.

Position Requirements

Professor Ilka Thiessen is looking for a student in Anthropology, Sociology, Global Studies or Philosophy with MMORPG game skills, or Computer Science student with interest in the social aspect of MMORPG games. The student should have an interest in research skills on the World Wide Net.

This student will support research on social forms of Becoming. This research connects to Prof. Thiessen's research history on social change and identities. Today we are living with a multitude of online and offline worlds which are more global than ever before. The research explores the meaning of these worlds for people's personhood, becomings and embodiment in global society.

The research project attempts to understand the concept of Globalization, not through an economic lens, but through social interactions in MMORPG games. How do these games transform communities and societies? How do these transformations link back to the dynamics of inequality and belonging? To address these and other questions, Prof. Thiessen is engaged in research projects on invented identities of the nation-state of Macedonia, and how aspects of this research transcend into the virtual world.

The student will be introduced the to innovative ethnographic methods and anthropological theories for a range of emerging field-sites and topics of pressing concern. A major in anthropology will be preferred but is not necessary. Experience in MMORPG gaming is a must.

Sign-up Directions

This is a Work-Op position. More details can be found when available on CareerVIU Work-Integrated Learning.