News

PROPS Project showcased at the XVIII CIAC Conference

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On March 1st, two presentations regarding the PROPS – Interactive Narratives Propose Pluralistic Discourse were delivered during the XVIII CIAC Conference. These presentations showcased the ongoing work of two researchers from PROPS, focusing on the creation of a video game and an interactive comic exploring online hate speech.

Unbully, a video game presented by Gabriel Evangelista, emerges from an artistic process centered around fostering positive relationships through challenges. In the fictional universe of Unbully, players have the opportunity to control a dragon named “Tales” embarking on an adventure through the Black Forest. Despite facing discrimination from peers, this hero must overcome all obstacles to build a positive relationship with other dragons.

The Update is a comic that allows users to interact and control the flow and outcome of the story through their choices. Beatriz Valente presented this digital artifact, emphasizing the creative process behind the development of its prototype, aiming to contribute to media prevention and education.

Targeted at students aged 10 to 14, these two digital works are part of an initiative intending to develop six counter-narratives, including two video games, two interactive narratives, and two educational pathways. The goal is to engage educators, trainers, children, and young people actively in combating online hate speech. The production of these educational and artistic objects is being carried out in collaboration with the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém and the University of Beira Interior.

Get to know the PROPS project (here).