Guest Contributor: LARP in the Media Series

I write on LARP in popular Media relatively frequently, so I’m always excited to get other perspectives. Inspired by recent conversations on facebook and elsewhere, Anthony was inspired to write this essay on the use of LARP in popular media. As a media-positive person, I think this is really provocative. I’m curious to hear people’s responses, as well as possible solutions to this problem.

Why LARP Should Not Be Portrayed in Film and Television

by Anthony Reed

Recently, Zoe made a post on her facebook page about a clip from the IFC show Portlandia; the clip was about some steampunks in a hotel, and the larger conversation spoke to the representation of LARP in media. Related to this, the Portlandia clip really bugged me, and I love Portlandia (Seth Meyers is fantastic). Within the facebook threat, people were springing to defend the clip as being what Portlandia “does”: Carrie and Fred, acting like idiots while existing inside a subculture (this time steampunk RPers), is the whole point. I understand that argument and would mostly agree, except it wasn’t Carrie and Fred being idiots that got me about this skit. It was a discussion they have with an old woman outside of the elevator. I couldn’t nail down specifically what bugged me about it, but I knew that was the scene that was sticking in my craw.

LARP and Journalism

by Zoe

Lizzie Stark of elizabethstark.com has made the foray into LARPing; her new book, Leaving Mundania was just released. I haven't had the chance to read it yet, but my copy is ordered, and hopefully shipping soon. I just discovered Stark's blog, and I'm interested. All this being said, my anthropologist alarm is beeping. My concerns are below, but I encourage everyone else to voice their reactions as well. (Also, please forgive the plunge into anthropological method and theory. I work with what I've got.)

Lizzie Stark, and please correct me if I'm wrong, has LARPed for 18 months. In that time period, she has conducted some fantastic journalism, interviewed intelligent people, and participated in really interesting events. However, 18 months seems like a really short turn around for LARP. Having LARPed now for about 3 years (in Accelerant), I still, as an academic and a player, wouldn't feel comfortable writing an article on it. Why? I'm only just now starting to get a grasp on what makes LARP tick. That's taken three years of PCing, NPCing, staffing, blogging, and researching LARP. Stark is maybe just a different academic than I am, but I can't help but wonder if she's gone for breadth rather than depth. (In fairness, she spent 3 years on the book. That's standardish fieldwork time, I spose.)

My second issue... Stark seems to advocate expanding the definition of LARP to a broader range of activities. She puts "larp" in historical perspective, and categorizes a wide array of activities under the umbrella category of "larp." (I'm all for putting LARP in historical perspective, though I don't know that I'd categorize those activities as directly comparable to modern day LARPing. We run into the same problem with archaeology and comparative ethnography-- historical comparisons can trivialize the individuality of the extant community.) I'm undecided on whether or not this is a good idea. LARPers are part of a stigmatized community. While expanding the definition of LARP to a wider range of activities may make LARPing more palatable to a popular audience, it also risks sacrificing the integrity and nuances of individual LARP games. For instance, Accelerant and NERO, while both LARPs, are wildly different from one another in system, character motivation, and experience. How different then is an Accelerant LARP from some of the examples that Stark presents? Does it do justice to the individual games and players to lump them into an umbrella category? Again, I haven't read her book, so I don't know just how large her definition is. This is mostly gleaned from her blog and interviews. But I'm interested. And really curious about Nordic larps.

My third issue... and Chris Wilkins helped me articulate this: LARP is about LARPers. One of my biggest problems with writing about LARP academically is that it is a fully immersive experience that, in many ways, is meta-cultural. It is best represented by the people who LARP themselves (hence this blog). I get that journalism is all about representing others, but I'm a collaborative anthropologist. Not a journalist. I just have this feeling that she is an outsider looking in. I'm reading over her blog now, I feel like she has some really interesting questions and points, but is still kind of just scratching on the surface of LARP.

This is a cursory look at Stark's work, and I'm interested in learning more about her methods. As an anthropologist, I'm immediately concerned that she hasn't spent enough time in game. I also explained my larger concerns about extending the word "LARP" to a broader definition. Once I read the book, which I'm excited to do, I'll have a better feel, but these are my, admittedly, knee-jerk reactions. I do, however, need to wholeheartedly commend Stark on being respectful of LARPing as a whole-- she's definitely doing her part, from what I can do, to challenge many of the preconceptions about LARPing. And for that I really congratulate and thank her. I don't think Stark intends for her book to be comprehensive nor definitive. I have some concerns, but, if nothing else, it's a good starting point for future writers.

I hope to get the LARPcast fellows and a few other people involved in a roundtable discussion of the book. If you're interested, please let me know.

LARPcast, Plans, and Ideas-- Please Comment

Plans? One week in, and we're strong. I have a lot of submissions right now. Mostly from Madrigal people, though Lost Eidolons is helping. There is great private discussion going on in LARP communities. (Not because of me.) I want it to continue.

Tomorrow, we finish up Mira's wonderful non-fiction work on being new. Then more GrumCo from Rowan and Zephyr. Afterwards, me and a LARPcast response.

I will soon be posting on LARPcast, a podcast run by Mickey and Bill. I will probably comment on their most recent one (commercialization), or perhaps the blog dedicated to media. (I am with Bill on merchandise for LARPs. On media, I disagree with almost the entire thing. What do you want to hear? Agree with Bill? Disagree with Bill? Ignore Mickey entirely? I don't know yet.) LARPcast is good, great, and admirable. Go listen, and think.

I want your thoughts. I want your submissions. Non-Madrigal people-- GET INVOLVED.