Playing on Transgressions

Transgressive play is an integral (yet uncomfortable) part of the play spectrum, encompassing both the desirable (what is fun or creative) and undesirable (lying, trolling, or griefing). This duality between the desirable and undesirable is a central tension in understanding the nature of play. Players sometimes encounter moral dilemmas, interpersonal dynamics that challenge them, or uncomfortable situations that mirror real-life complexities, leading to natural moments of tension and social regulation. Due to this tension, the larp community has evolved to achieve high levels of care, participation, and intimacy.

When the agreement is broken, it exposes the fragility (or flexibility) of play. Transgressive play can have different outcomes; indeed, the most significant risk is the collapse of the make-believe. When the collective make-believe fades, the play loses all meaning. Tensions and conflict arise when these boundaries are tested or broken, intentionally or accidentally.

These challenges range from minor rule disagreements or inconsistencies to deliberate antisocial behaviour. Transgressions, though disruptive, can become moments of transformation, in which disbelief breaks the imaginary, allowing new meanings to emerge. As disbelief can dissolve make-believe, it is also in moments of disbelief that new truths can arise and possible futures be imagined.

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This is a text overview of the poster presentation for the Transformative Play Initiative Seminar 2025: Games, Conflict, and Education, in Visby, Sweden. Hybrid event co-funded by the Erasmus+ ROCKET project; the Uppsala Forum on Democracy, Peace and Justice; and the Department of Game Design.

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Tiz Creel of Living Things Studio ©2024

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