Leaping into Digital Ethos with Florence M. Chee

Florence M. Chee, Ph.D., an expert in the study of digital culture and ethics, recently discussed her latest book publication, "Digital Game Culture in Korea: The Social at Play," offering profound insights into the symbiotic relationship between digital gaming and society in Korea. Her research challenges stereotypes, explores cultural nuances, and underscores the ethical considerations essential in digital gaming. 

"I made the decision to conduct my fieldwork on online gaming culture in Korea... to investigate what aspects of history, culture, social structure, infrastructure, and policy factored into the way everyday people experience gaming," Chee said. This exploration sheds light on the misunderstood realm of online gaming, often stereotyped as addictive and destructive. 

Having been a gamer from an early age, Chee’s firsthand understanding of gaming worlds comes to play in challenging stereotypes that label them as addictive and harmful.  

“Born and raised on the West Coast of Canada, the game culture I grew up with started with Commodore 64 games in the early ‘80s. I was kind of living out the stereotype of -literally- PC gaming in my basement,” Chee said. “Twenty years later, I was doing some research consulting and the opportunity to study North American gamers came up. Suddenly, I saw that my gaming hobby presented a path toward a research career. “ 

Through her ethnographic research approach, Chee delves deep into the social and cultural roles that games fulfill, providing a unique lens into the everyday lives of gamers.  

"My book is a slice of life that I hope gives people some insight into the complexity of media culture," she said, challenging prevalent notions of online game addiction with her findings. "Being a woman in these typically masculine fields also gave me a different perspective and approach than what I was seeing reported and studied. I pushed back... and offered a cross-cultural perspective on the role of games in everyday life.” 

Under the leadership of Dr. Florence M. Chee, the Center for Digital Ethics and Policy stands at the forefront of navigating the intricate landscapes of media culture, digital ethics, and game studies. Her work champions the integration of interdisciplinary approaches and underscores the critical role of ethical considerations across digital domains. The upcoming 13th Annual International Symposium on Digital Ethics, aptly themed "Leap!" for 2024, beckons us to join Dr. Chee and others in surpassing the confines of traditional boundaries, borders, and disciplines, presenting a unique forum for addressing the complexities introduced by emerging technologies, policies, and practices. 

We invite you to participate in this event on March 14 at McCormick Lounge, Coffey Hall, at Loyola University Chicago’s Lakeshore Campus, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST. Secure your participation by visiting www.LUC.edu/LEAP for registration details and further information.