Reflection Journal 4: Role-playing, Identity, and You
Read Section 6.5 “Narrative and Postmodern Magic” in Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 6: Key Concepts, Techniques, and Purposes for Transformative Role-playing Game Design” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
Read Section 3.5 on “Identity Theories” in Diakolambrianou et al.’s “Chapter 3: Theory, Central Concepts, and Inspirational Materials” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
Choose one (1) of the following to examine: Josephine Baird’s “Role-playing the Self: Trans Self-Expression, Exploration, and Embodiment in (Live Action) Role-playing Games” (reading) or Baird’s “Designing for Trans & Nonbinary Experiences & Exploration in Larps.”
Answer the following questions:
- The materials in this class support the notion that people contain a multitude of identities within themselves, both psychologically and socially. What have your own role-playing characters represented for you?
- If you are inexperienced in role-playing, you can discuss the characters you have played in the playtests in this course.
- In 1-2 sentences, describe Baird’s journey with identity exploration in performance activities. Have you ever explored another gender or sexual identity through performance?
- If not, are you interested in exploring gender or sexual identity through role-playing? Why or why not?
- Choose one (1) aspect of your own identity. Provide a brief design sketch of a role-playing game exploring this aspect of identity, whether in a direct or indirect way. Consider what you hope players would gain from such an experience.