(I feel like we've hijacked the journal - sorry, essentialsaltes! Going to respond to a few points you've made up and down to the thread to try to minimize the clutter/fraying)
"Take it seriously and give it your all." - I'm surprised you think you're in the minority with that mantra. For me, it's more like something that's so built into the process that it's a given. A pack of strangers are counting on you for several hours of *something* - if you're not going to take it seriously, gtfo, y'know? I've not yet met a (successful) GM who didn't work by that philosophy...
re: throwing some words together for you, I'd have to have a think about that to see if I've got anything honestly meaningful to say. Most of my LARP writings have been pretty light and basic stuff, possibly too light for your intended audience.
Interesting point re: social contract between GM and players. Again, I see it touched on in a lighter way in most events I've participated in/ran - terms ranging from the GM agreeing to provide a coherent event to the players agreeing to not touch each other without mutual consent, etc. Again, I've touched on it a *bit* on my LARP page in GM and Player Responsibilities to a LARP (again, at the link, above)
I agree with the idea that a LARP can be emotionally intense and not fit the definition of "good" but can still be "fun" for the participant - but that brings us right back to what the meaning of "fun" is.
(resists temptation to draw parallels to the kink scene and how one masochist's idea of a hell of an afternoon probably violates some tenets of the Geneva convention and therefore could hardly be considered "fun" in the traditional sense of the word...)
My *specific* objection to the event "Gang Rape" is borne of several factors, not the least of which being the danger to the participants' mental health. But I'll save the rest of that for my own soapbox.
I suppose part of the resistance/reaction you see to the proposal of terming a larp as art is borne of intimidation. Anyone can be a hobbyist. Not everyone can be an artist.
I've been trying to parlay 15+ years of LARP running into some employable skills (I know, good luck!) and I know that even the term "role playing" makes some recruiters shudder, so I've resorted to using the term "Interactive Fiction". So far, it seems to work...
Going to go check out some of the links you've posted here and there. Cheers.
no subject
"Take it seriously and give it your all." - I'm surprised you think you're in the minority with that mantra. For me, it's more like something that's so built into the process that it's a given. A pack of strangers are counting on you for several hours of *something* - if you're not going to take it seriously, gtfo, y'know? I've not yet met a (successful) GM who didn't work by that philosophy...
re: throwing some words together for you, I'd have to have a think about that to see if I've got anything honestly meaningful to say. Most of my LARP writings have been pretty light and basic stuff, possibly too light for your intended audience.
Interesting point re: social contract between GM and players. Again, I see it touched on in a lighter way in most events I've participated in/ran - terms ranging from the GM agreeing to provide a coherent event to the players agreeing to not touch each other without mutual consent, etc. Again, I've touched on it a *bit* on my LARP page in GM and Player Responsibilities to a LARP (again, at the link, above)
I agree with the idea that a LARP can be emotionally intense and not fit the definition of "good" but can still be "fun" for the participant - but that brings us right back to what the meaning of "fun" is.
(resists temptation to draw parallels to the kink scene and how one masochist's idea of a hell of an afternoon probably violates some tenets of the Geneva convention and therefore could hardly be considered "fun" in the traditional sense of the word...)
My *specific* objection to the event "Gang Rape" is borne of several factors, not the least of which being the danger to the participants' mental health. But I'll save the rest of that for my own soapbox.
I suppose part of the resistance/reaction you see to the proposal of terming a larp as art is borne of intimidation. Anyone can be a hobbyist. Not everyone can be an artist.
I've been trying to parlay 15+ years of LARP running into some employable skills (I know, good luck!) and I know that even the term "role playing" makes some recruiters shudder, so I've resorted to using the term "Interactive Fiction". So far, it seems to work...
Going to go check out some of the links you've posted here and there. Cheers.