Writing Against Culture with Online Poker

Authors

• Jukka Jouhki University of Jyväskylä https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1388-1225

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30676/jfas.156835

Abstract

As with many new cultural formations, the recent online poker boom is, in a way, an accident. When the NHL strike (2004–2005) in North America created an  cute need for television re-scheduling, poker tournaments filled the empty programming slots. A stale game of middle-aged men turned into an exciting, familiar hobby with a global reach. Progress in internet infrastructures enabled a boost of poker online. Nowadays, online poker is depicted as a game for young men whose lives are devoted to the pursuit of intense experiences. The game is also characterized by its contradictory embodiment and rejection of the virtues of the Protestant work ethic. It emphasizes diligence, yet places a high value on quick success and money. It suggests a highly competitive recreational venture, a postmodern Darwinist challenge.