Postmodern Joy of Role-Playing Games

Agency, Ritual and Meaning in the Medium

Häftad, Engelska, 2018

AvRené Reinhold Schallegger,Matthew Wilhelm Kapell

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Historian Johan Huizinga once described game playing as the motor of humanity's cultural development, predating art and literature. Since the late 20th century, Western society has undergone a "ludification," as the influence of game-playing has grown ever more prevalent. At the same time, new theories of postmodernism have emphasized the importance of interactive, playful behavior.Core concepts of postmodernism are evident in pen-and-paper role-playing, such as Dungeons and Dragons. Exploring the interrelationships among narrative, gameplay, players and society, the author raises questions regarding authority, agency and responsibility, and discusses the social potential of RPGs in the 21st century.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2018-03-01
Mått152 x 229 x 13 mm
Vikt318 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
SerieStudies in Gaming
Antal sidor258
FörlagMcFarland & Co Inc
ISBN9781476664934

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Table of ContentsPreface: Joyful Games of Meaning-Making1 ■ The Power of Words: Postmodernism in a Nutshell2 ■ Homo Ludens: Theories of Play and Games3 ■ Of Dice and (Wo)Men: What Are Role-Playing Games?4 ■ Generations: The Origins and Development of RPGs5 ■ Constructing Understanding: RPG Theory6 ■ Metalanguage: Critical Literature on RPGs7 ■ Reframing: Alternative Theoretical PerspectivesConclusion: Making ConnectionsAbbreviations UsedChapter NotesBibliographyIndex

“In this groundbreaking study, Schallegger argues that critical and scholarly study of role-playing games (RPGs) reveals crucial insights about how collaborative participation in storytelling contributes to cultural progress.... required reading...essential”—Choice; “pulls out key concepts of postmodernism as well as basic stories of play and games and maps them against tabletop roleplaying...I could easily see this being used as a highly serviceable text”—The Green Man Review.