Elasticity of Time: Films & Games

I am taking a course that is taught jointly with the Sorbonne Paris 3 (as I mentioned in an earlier post) and we have been given our (only) assignment for the course. There are four sections of the course covering different topics. We are to pick one of the four topics and write a paper (30pgs, 1.5 spacing heh) that interests us (in terms of position, method, theoretical framework etc.). As I am not directly interested in film, its analysis and construction, however, I had to think about what I could do that fits somewhat into my own work (as suggested by the course outline).

Without thinking of how this fits directly into my work on identity, the first three sessions, taught by Phillippe Dubois are on the ways in which ‘image stops’ (bad translation) and manipulation of time within film impacts the viewing experience (to be fair, there was alot more in his lectures than this, along with technical proceedures, the historical evolution of the use of time in film (and photogrammes – again,  translation issues here) etc.

So what I am thinking is, what time manipulations are carried over from film into video games, are the purposes the same or different – if so, how – and what (if anything) does gameplay bring to the equation in terms of elasticity of time. I would appreciate any reading suggestions to head in this direction in both film and game studies – I know that surely there has been a decent amount written around this topic.

In terms of identity, I know there is also much to be said regarding time-play and the development of both character and self [player]. But before I head in that direction, I need to clarify (to myself even!) my doctoral direction.