https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147108 Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:14:34 GMT 2026-08-30T16:14:34Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148516 Title: Choreographing fear : a Laban movement analysis of survival horror gameplay in Resident Evil Abstract: This dissertation examines how choreographed movement contributes to fear and player immersion in survival horror video games through an analysis of selected boss encounters from the Resident Evil series. Using Laban Movement Analysis as the principal analytical framework, the study explores how movement functions as an expressive and affective mechanism within video games. While existing scholarship on survival horror often focuses on environmental design, this research argues that movement is central to the construction of fear and embodied player experience. Focusing specifically on the boss encounters against Lady Dimitrescu and Jack Baker, the analysis explores how these antagonists generate different forms of kinaesthetic unease through choreographed movement. The methodology combines qualitative movement interpretation with quantitative data collection through the logging of recurring LMA elements observed within recorded gameplay footage. The findings demonstrate that movement patterns significantly shape player perception and emotional response within survival horror gameplay. Lady Dimitrescu creates instability and disorientation, while Jack Baker evokes claustrophobia and oppressive tension. By combining dance studies methodologies with game studies scholarship, this dissertation contributes to interdisciplinary discussions surrounding digital performance and survival horror game design. Ultimately, the research proposes that choreographic analysis offers valuable insight into how fear is communicated within video games and demonstrates the potential for movement-based methodologies to inform future horror game development. Description: B. Dance St.(Hons)(Melit.) Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148516 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147075 Title: From Laban to Forsythe : rethinking dance for Parkinson’s in the digital era Abstract: From Laban to Forsythe: Rethinking Dance for Parkinson’s in the Digital Era explores the intersection of choreography, digital technology, and therapy for Parkinson’s disease. The research focuses on how William Forsythe’s choreographic methods and Rudolf Laban’s Movement Analysis (LMA) can inform the conceptualization of a digital tool for dance therapists to aid with patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Through a mixed-methods research, this study brings together theoretical frameworks, practical experience, and personal observation, including a background in music, to analyse how choreographic thinking can evolve into systems that serve therapeutic needs for Parkinson’s. Initially envisioned as an exploration of Forsythe’s movement philosophy within an educational context, the research shifted direction following direct experience in Parkinson’s dance therapy training. The discovery of parallels between Laban-inspired movement structures and existing therapeutic dance exercises led to the proposition of a more targeted application: conceptualizing a digital tool that weaves together LMA and Forsythe’s improvisation strategies to support teachers in creating personalized dance therapy for PD. This shift also reflects my passion for music, an evolving understanding of movement’s therapeutic capacity, shaped by rhythmic flow and spatial awareness. This research invites a reimagining of how choreography, music, and technology might collaborate in the service of therapy and embodied knowledge in the age of algorithm. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147075 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z