Lisbeth Klastrup
Encyclopedia
Lisbeth Klastrup is a Danish scholar of new media
. Although her early research was on hypertext fiction
, she is now best known for her research on virtual worlds, in particular MMOGs such as Everquest
and World of Warcraft
. Her focus in this research has been on "worldliness", or what makes an online space as in an MMOG feel like a world, although she is also known for her presentation of amusing anecdotes that she then connects to larger research questions. Her discussion of her Everquest character's "trouser quest" (paper presented at Digital Arts and Culture
in 2003) is an example of this. Another project, the Death Stories Project looks into representations of death in MMOGs.
Klastrup, particularly in a Danish context, also does research on the uses of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs and moblogs, and the connection between offline and online communication. She also maintains a list of blogs by Danish researchers.
Klastrup is based in Copenhagen, and works as an Associate Professor at the IT University of Copenhagen, where she is affiliated with the Innovative Communication Research Group and the Center for Computer Game Research. In the academic year 2006/7 she was on leave from the IT University, working as an Associate Research Professor at the Center for Design Research Copenhagen, joining her colleague Ida Engholm. Engholm and Klastrup have previously (2004) edited a Danish anthology of case studies of hypertext fiction
, MMOGs and other new media forms, Digitale verdener.
In 2005, Klastrup chaired the Digital Arts and Culture
conference in collaboration with Susana Tosca. In 2008, she chaired the Ninth Annual conference for the Association of Internet Researchers, Internet Research 9.0.
Klastrup is currently (fall 2009) co-editing The International Handbook of Internet Research, with Jeremy Hunsinger and Matthew Allen, to be published by Springer Verlag late 2009.
Klastrup also keeps a research blog, Klastrup's Cataclysms
New media
New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
. Although her early research was on hypertext fiction
Hypertext fiction
Hypertext fiction is a genre of electronic literature, characterized by the use of hypertext links which provides a new context for non-linearity in "literature" and reader interaction. The reader typically chooses links to move from one node of text to the next, and in this fashion arranges a...
, she is now best known for her research on virtual worlds, in particular MMOGs such as Everquest
EverQuest
EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...
and World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
. Her focus in this research has been on "worldliness", or what makes an online space as in an MMOG feel like a world, although she is also known for her presentation of amusing anecdotes that she then connects to larger research questions. Her discussion of her Everquest character's "trouser quest" (paper presented at Digital Arts and Culture
Digital Arts and Culture
Digital Arts and Culture was a conference series that was established by Espen Aarseth in 1998, and was one of the first academic events to gather researchers, practitioners and artists working within the field of digital arts, cultures, aesthetics and design...
in 2003) is an example of this. Another project, the Death Stories Project looks into representations of death in MMOGs.
Klastrup, particularly in a Danish context, also does research on the uses of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs and moblogs, and the connection between offline and online communication. She also maintains a list of blogs by Danish researchers.
Klastrup is based in Copenhagen, and works as an Associate Professor at the IT University of Copenhagen, where she is affiliated with the Innovative Communication Research Group and the Center for Computer Game Research. In the academic year 2006/7 she was on leave from the IT University, working as an Associate Research Professor at the Center for Design Research Copenhagen, joining her colleague Ida Engholm. Engholm and Klastrup have previously (2004) edited a Danish anthology of case studies of hypertext fiction
Hypertext fiction
Hypertext fiction is a genre of electronic literature, characterized by the use of hypertext links which provides a new context for non-linearity in "literature" and reader interaction. The reader typically chooses links to move from one node of text to the next, and in this fashion arranges a...
, MMOGs and other new media forms, Digitale verdener.
In 2005, Klastrup chaired the Digital Arts and Culture
Digital Arts and Culture
Digital Arts and Culture was a conference series that was established by Espen Aarseth in 1998, and was one of the first academic events to gather researchers, practitioners and artists working within the field of digital arts, cultures, aesthetics and design...
conference in collaboration with Susana Tosca. In 2008, she chaired the Ninth Annual conference for the Association of Internet Researchers, Internet Research 9.0.
Klastrup is currently (fall 2009) co-editing The International Handbook of Internet Research, with Jeremy Hunsinger and Matthew Allen, to be published by Springer Verlag late 2009.
Klastrup also keeps a research blog, Klastrup's Cataclysms