The Postmodern Joy of Role-Playing Games

<p> 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.</p><p> Core concepts of postmodernism are evident in pen-and-paper role-playing such as <I>Dungeons and Dragons</I>. 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.</p>