magazén International Journal for Digital and Public Humanities

Journal | magazén
Monographic journal issue | 4 | 2 | 2023
Research Article | Mapping Our Digital Menagerie: A Monster Manual for the Megadungeon

Mapping Our Digital Menagerie: A Monster Manual for the Megadungeon

Abstract

Relying on a comparison between the complex spatial organization of our current digital ecosystem and the ones from dungeons in role-playing games, this article analyzes the multiple entities that populate our computers, smartphones and video game consoles. Trolls, bugs, worms, conversational AI agents, NPCs, daemons, ghosts, Trojan horses and others are presented and discussed with a focus on their different degree of agency, ranging from human-controlled to having a certain degree of autonomy. By addressing how we coexist with such beings, this paper contributes to the nascent field of digital folklore.


Open access | Peer reviewed

Submitted: Sept. 20, 2023 | Accepted: Nov. 23, 2023 | Published Dec. 19, 2023 | Language: en

Keywords Digital folkloreAgencyMegadungeonDigital cultureMonster

Subtags Institutions Environment Works of Art Modelling 3d data Communities Visualisation Society Image data Participation Publication Technology


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