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Sarah Lynne-Bowman, PhD, sits down with Alex to chat about educational larps, transformational larps, and what place words like “fun” and “self” can have in role-playing discourse. We also take a moment to defend that Lightning Bolt guy. See you at Living Games, heroes.
Sarah’s website
Living Games Conference
The Functions of Role-Playing Games
Østerskov Efterskole
Kapo, the Danish Prison Larp
Shoshanna Kessok’s Nordic Larp Talk
X-Card
College of Wizardry
Wyrd Con Companion Book
Trols Pedersen on Safety Culture
Dystopia Rising
This Miracle
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Jung’s “Personae”
Erik Erikson’s “Ego Identity”
Analog Game Studies
Keith Johnstone’s Impro
Chuubo’s Marvellous Wish Granting Engine
Amtgard
Treasure Trapped
Planetfall
Mind’s Eye Society
New World Magischola
Role Models
“The Nordic Convention”
Fastaval
Nordsplainer vs Amerijerk
You know it’s weird… until this interview I never realized how much LARP has in common with 90s rave culture (and a host of other cultural phenomena as well). Once you set aside the basic framework (music vs. intentional roleplay) it’s practically the same thing. In fact, the discussion on transformative experiences made me wonder if anyone has ever written a paper comparing something like LARP to religion. I know that that gets into somewhat contentious territory, but particularly if you look at some of the more extreme examples like Charismatic Christianity, I think a lot of people go specifically seeking a transformative experience. And sure, in LARP maybe people aren’t collapsing and speaking in tongues, but obviously both are structured in a way that allows one to engage with oneself in a way that is taboo in everyday society. Great stuff.
I was hoping someone would pick up on that T.A.Z. nod! I actually have an academic background in theology (among other things) and I had a professor who was so fascinated by rave culture – picture this softspoken Parisian Catholic scholar getting all worked up over teens accessing the numinous in these totally emergent and unpredictable ways. It was great. I dunno if larp is religious exactly, but I think the ravers and the charismatic congregations and the larpers are seeking much the same thing: a truly meaningful experience of being alive.
Wow!! This interview was so packed full of incredibly interesting things I’m not even sure how to start responding.. but for now I’ll just say thanks so much for doing it (both!), along with all the other amazing stuff you put out! OSP is hands-down my favourite RP-related thing at the moment. 🙂
Yay! Sarah gets all the credit for this one. She is one fascinating lady.
So, several years later and I’ve just started listen in ng to this podcast. And this episode broke open some huge stuff for me. I work in theater I have a kid tons of my friends role play at various levels. But I can’t. I seriously struggle. After hearing dr. Sarah talk about the self and roles and how we develop our place in the world so much makes sense. I was bullied all through my teen years and into/through college for being different odd out of step. And over time I’ve just choked back more and more to be acceptable. And I dont acknowledge that. At all. Ever. And yeah I think role playing asks me asks a player/engager to maybe be unacceptable and different from who/what they’ve defined and maybe I cant commit because i cant/wont/not prepared to deal with all that’s been pushed aside or because i really really do NOT feel safe letting go – folx will laugh or I’ll be “wrobg” again and not fit with these people in this scenario. Also, I’ve learned I’m most likely on the autism spectrum which also messes with my sense of self and identity and roles. But because of this podcast I can now start addressing this and maybe really let go and play.