Xadrez: o lúdico como forma de expressão e interação social

Abstract

This academic paper proposes an analysis of the game of chess, through a large audiovisual report. The main objective is to investigate how chess, a game with a millennia-old past, has adapted and prospered in the context of social networks and digital platforms. Complementing the ideas presented in the report “Chess: the ludic as a form of expression and social interaction”, the specific objectives of this report include identifying the transformations in chess driven by the digital environment, evaluating the benefits of playing the game as a pedagogical tool and creating a journalistic artifact on the subject. The central problem addressed is the investigation of whether chess is undergoing a media boom, with the hypothesis that the success of the series The Queen's Gambit, released in October 2020 by Netflix, contributed to promoting a boom in interest and media coverage of the game, resulting in its increasing visibility in digital media. The justification for the study lies in the observable increase in channels dedicated to chess on YouTube since 2020, as well as in the greater digital presence of the International Chess Federation - FIDE. The methodology used includes observation and experience, bibliographic research, interviews, and production of the report in the cities of Natal/RN, João Pessoa/PB, Recife/PE and São Paulo/SP. The theoretical framework was based on the studies of Jenkins (2006), Burgess and Green (2009), and Lobo (2020), which provide a basis for understanding the phenomenon of mediatization and its influence on chess. Also, the research by Gibson and Marback (2021) on the success of the series The Queen's Gambit and its influence on the chess scene. This work aims to contribute to the understanding of the role of chess in the current media and society scenario, highlighting its reinvention and cultural relevance.