What happens after the larp - Embodied debriefing in theory and practice

with Weronika Szatkowska

The body plays a central role in the construction of knowledge and meaning-making, both during gameplay and beyond the game experience. Rather than being merely an object of reflection, the body can also act as a subject and an active medium through which reflection takes place. This perspective has important implications for debriefing in role-playing game design and facilitation. Bodily and sensory experiences are not simply topics to be discussed after gameplay. They can function as sources of information, media of reflection, and means of transferring and articulating insights. During the seminar, I will present a framework of embodied debriefing techniques for games, discuss its theoretical foundations, and further examine how incorporating the body into debriefing may support the integration of transformative experiences beyond the game context. I will explore the difference between embodied and encated approaches to game debriefs and discuss the role(s) of body in the process: body as a source of information, body as a tool for processing and body as a vehicle for change.

Speaker bio

Weronika Szatkowska is a PhD student in Human-Computer Interaction at Uppsala University. Her research focuses on how experiences gained through play can be integrated into everyday life, with particular attention to embodiment, reflection, and transformative play. She has a background in simulation games and serious games for social change and is involved in research and design work around larp, democracy, and participatory play practices.

Time

Monday September 14th at 15:00 CEST over zoom

To attend

Contact annika.waern@im.uu.se for a zoom invite.