Blog 4: Knutepunkt - Perspective from Larpocracy

A blog post by Sarah Lynne Bowman and Jaakko Stenros.

Knutepunkt is an annual convention for creators and players of larps that brings together international people who work in a tradition that is increasingly inaccurately named 'Nordic larp'.

The convention travels between countries, and this 29th event brought Knutepunkt to its original home, Norway. The event is a larp festival where it is possible to play larps, attend workshops on larp-related issues, listen to lectures and panels on larp theory, practical issues, larp in different cultures, and more, as well as get to know people more informally in various kinds of parties from sing-alongs to sauna and cheese-eating to dancing.

Jon Black and Sarah Lynne Bowman from Uppsala University

The four-day event was preceded by 'A Week in Norway,' which took place around Oslo. During the week, there were larps and parties, but also different events like Sublime Pretense (a symposium on art and larp), Nordic Larp Talks (TED-talk-style short presentations), the Edu-Larp Conference (bringing together people involved with larp and pedagogy), and the Nordic Larp Research Network meeting (for larp academics).

Larpocracy had a strong presence at Knutepunkt this year, which included:

- A brief presentation of the project at the Edu-Larp Conference by Sarah Lynne Bowman from Uppsala University

- Longer presentations at the Nordic Larp Research Network by Jaakko Stenros and Sarah Lynne Bowman on the overall project, as well as the effects, design, and festival work packages, followed by an impromptu democracy workshop by Hanne Grasmo

- A lecture by Jaakko Stenros and Johanna Koljonen from Tampere University about design strategies in spaces like larp festivals for democratic encounters

- A workshop by Jon Back and Sarah Lynne Bowman on Designing Democracy - Past, Present, and Future, which focused on what democracy means to larpers, democracy-themed larps and activities, and a design exercise around larp for democratic skill-building

- A mention of the project at the Knutepunkt News program item hosted by Mike Pohjola, which generated great excitement among conference attendees

Jaakko Stenros and Johanna Koljonen from Tampere University

In addition, most of the pre-convention events were at least partially organized by Larpocracy-affiliated people. The Nordic larp tradition and community are and have been central to many people in Larpocracy, and as our work will draw on this community, it is important to us to also listen to the community and give back.