Background and activities

I am an Associate Professor at Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture where I research the relationship between technology and society. I am interested in how digital technologies are made part of our everyday life, and how appropriation can lead to new and unexpected meanings and practices. In addition I am concerned with how technology can be used to include and exclude vulnerable groups of users.

In both research and teaching I combine internet- and game studies with perspectives from Science and Technology Studies (STS). I use using qualitative methods like interviews and ethnography in combination with theoretical approaches such as actor-network-theory, script and domestication, to focus on my analysis on the heterogenous, complex, changeable and relational.

In 2016 I defended my PhD thesis “Ludic Work: Assemblages, domestication and co-productions of play”. While playing video games are often framed as an all-encompassing activity too fun to put down, my research shows that neither engagement nor fun comes from nothing -it is the result of ludic work. The papers in my thesis discuss negotiations of play in everyday life, how players become experts, friendship in online games, organization of gaming communities and the involvement of non-human actors in play.

I teach two bachelor courses: KULT1101 Digital Cultures/HFO1001 Digital Changes and KULT2201 Digitalization and Societal change. In addition, I advise both master- and PhD students on topics such as internet, gaming, innovation and users.

Research interests

  • Digitalization
  • User perspective
  • Online communities
  • Pop culture
  • Technology and gender
  • Everyday life

Ongoing research projects

LANGUAGE, INTEGRATION AND MEDIA (LIM)

Today’s migration situation has brought opportunities and challenges to the Norwegian education system. LIM addresses both through a focus on integration of students of upper secondary school age (VGs). Research shows that learning strategies that include both Norwegian and migrant students are important for successful integration. In LIM we will develop three innovative and engaging learning opportunities for Norwegian and migrant students aimed at improving academic and integration outcomes. 

Project website: https://www.ntnu.edu/web/isl/lim

GAMER PARENTS MEDIATING PLAY (GAME)

This project investigates how gamer parents mediate player practices in their children. Conflicts between parents and children about time spent playing video games and gaming interests in general, are common. These conflicts arise, at least in part, from parents' lack of experience with digital games, so what happens when people who have been gaming most of their lives become parents themselves? How does gaming literacy among parents shape the gaming habits of their children?

Membership

 

Research publications

Ask, K., Spilker, H. S., & Hansen, M. (2019). The politics of user-platform relationships: Co-scripting live-streaming on Twitch.tv. First Monday, 24(7).

Ask, K., & Sørensen, K. H. (2019). Domesticating technology for shared success: collective enactments of World of Warcraft. Information, Communication & Society, 22(1), 73-88.

Ask, K., & Abidin, C. (2018). My life is a mess: self-deprecating relatability and collective identities in the memification of student issues. Information, Communication & Society, 21(6), 834-850.

Ask, K., & Chen, M. (2018). Alignments & Alliances: Associations of Value. Banks, J (red.) Avatar, Assembled. The Social and Technical Anatomy of Digital Bodies. Peter Lang Publishing Group

Spilker, H. S., Ask, K., & Hansen, M. (2018). The new practices and infrastructures of participation: how the popularity of Twitch. tv challenges old and new ideas about television viewing. Information, Communication & Society, 1-16.

Jaccheri, L., Wang, A., Ask, K., Petersen, S., & Brend, K. (2017, September). Women and Computer Games (Workshops and Tutorials). In 16th International Conference on Entertainment Computing (ICEC) (pp. 507-509). Springer International Publishing.

Ask, K. (2016): Ludic Work. Assemblages, domestications and co-productions of play. Doktorgradsavhandling NTNU, Trondheim. Norge.

Ask, K., Svendsen, S. H. B., & Karlstrøm, H. (2016). Når jentene må inn i skapet: Seksuell trakassering og kjønnsfrihet i online dataspill. Norsk medietidsskrift, 23(01), 1-21.

Ask, K. (2016). The value of calculations: The coproduction of theorycraft and player practices. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, 36(3), 190-200.

Ask, K. & Svendnsen, S.H.B (2014). Bug or feature? Seksuell trakassering i online dataspill. Report available at: https://www.academia.edu/9040572/_Bug_or_feature_Seksuell_trakassering_i_online_dataspill

Ask, K. & Antonsen, M. (2013). Harry Potter og de uløselige kontroverser. Et essay om popkultur, teknologideterminisme og et ønske om magiske løsninger. Bøygen, Vol 1

Eklund, L., & Ask, K. (2013). The strenuous task of maintaining and making friends: Tensions between play and friendship in MMOs. In DiGRA 2013: DeFragging Game Studies, Atlanta Georgia, US.

Ask, K. (2011). Spiller du riktig?–Tid, moral og materialitet i domestiseringen av et online dataspill. Norsk medietidsskrift, 18(02), 140-157.

Selected examples of science communication

Ask, K., Antonsen, M. A., & Karlstrøm, H. (2014). The many faces of engagement. Nordic Journal of Science and Technology Studies 2014 ;Volum 2.(2)

Antonsen, M., Ask, K. & Johansen, A. (2013). Making sense of Nordicness, or making Nordicness?. Nordic Journal of Science and Technology Studies 2013 ;Volum 1.(1) s. 3-4

Ask, K (2015) What I said about games and gender at UNs Women Conference CSW. Blogpost at spillpikene.no (March 26th)

Bergstrøm, Ida Irene (2015). Online computer games force women into the closet. Sciencenordic.com (February 17th)