We may feel overjoyed, fascinated, mesmerized and captivated, when engaging in video games. We may want to regulate our emotions and moods in interactive media systems (such as virtual and augmented reality), on-demand entertainment media.

These examples show: Emotional involvement needs to be studied from a wide array of perspectives, each bringing distinctive insights.

Based on the Routledge International Handbook of Emotions and Media  (Döveling, Konijn 2021), and highly up to date perspectives (Bowman 2024), this class provides insightful inter-/transdisciplinary understanding of emotional involvement in gaming.

After elucidating on the different theoretical perspectives and concepts, the students will actively reflect and analyze emotions in different gaming experiences, interactive media (such as virtual and augmented reality), on-demand entertainment media.

We may feel relieved watching a tragic movie with a happy end, scared following animated characters who might be in danger. This class explores the role of emotions in animated film experiences. The students will reflect on the impact emotions have in animated films. Based on core emotion theories, creative strategies and artistic practices in the field of animation are discussed.

Students acquire core psychological competencies, understanding affective dispositions in storytelling, cinematography, visual development. They actively engage in emotional experiences and discuss these critically, based on the knowledge acquired. How do animation artists create products that lead to immersion? What are possible challenges?

Answering these questions, this class sheds light on emotions in animated films. Case studies will enable students to critically reflect on current perspectives and challenges for animation in film experiences.

What does transculturality mean and what is its relation to inter- and multiculturality? This course will give insight into basic understandings of culture and culturality and in particular it will adress the concept of transculturality. We will reflect these concepts for a better understanding of the role they play in our identity building, interpersonal relationships and communities and we will discuss and reflect upon the issues and ethical dimensions that cultural identy and the categorization of cultures bring along. Based on this, we will develop an advanced knowledge of the importance of transcultural competence in the pluralized world for constructing a dialogic future of togetherness in difference. This course will  include both text reading, collaborative discussion and analysis, as well as group work. Students will be given space to connect the content with their own perspectives as well as issues and questions regarding their own disciplin.