Play & CreateMathias Poulsen

@mathiaspoulsenCounterPlay

www.counterplay.org

#NextLibraryPlay

Hi, I’m Mathias

#NextLibraryPlay

This is what I’m most proud of: The CounterPlay Festival

#NextLibraryPlay

We build on the claim that playfulness is important everywhere & for all

people!

#NextLibraryPlay

The Plan

#NextLibraryPlay

When you play,

plans may

change!

10.00-10.10: Introduction10.10-10.30: Let’s Play!10.30-10.45: A bit of background10.45-11.15: PlayJam11.15-11.30: Wrapping up

Please, interrupt me!

#NextLibraryPlay

…because whenever I start talking about play…

#NextLibraryPlay

…because whenever I start talking about play…

#NextLibraryPlay

I think of this as a conversation – so let’s talk!

#NextLibraryPlay

We will be playing & creating, but it’s not about *activities* as such

#NextLibraryPlay

What is the role playfulness as a

catalyst for transforming libraries?

#NextLibraryPlay

Rather, it’s about asking:

What is the role playfulness as a

catalyst for transforming libraries?

#NextLibraryPlay

Think about that…

…while we play!

#NextLibraryPlay

Turtle Wushu!

#NextLibraryPlay

By Invisible Playground

”Massive Multiplayer Thumb-Wrestling”

#NextLibraryPlay

By art-technology-philosophy group monocrom

”Massive Multiplayer Thumb-Wrestling”

#NextLibraryPlay

Thank you for playing!

#NextLibraryPlay

Oh, now he talks again!

#NextLibraryPlay

My guiding question has always been:

#NextLibraryPlay

How do we help people to become empowered citizens, able to act & influence the world?

“The world faces global

challenges, which require

global solutions”

#NextLibraryPlay

http://www.globaleducationfirst.org/

Why playfulness

?#NextLibraryPlay

For years, games & learning was my primary approach to this.

…in a way, I came away disappointed.

#NextLibraryPlay

Games tend to shift focus away from what it’s all about:

PEOPLE!#NextLibraryPlay

Playfulness is all about people!

#NextLibraryPlay

I think playful people might be better

equipped to live in this world

#NextLibraryPlay

#NextLibraryPlay

http://imgur.com/qDtW6Sz

"it's wrong to think of playing as the interruption of ordinary life. Consider instead playing as the underlying, always there,

continuum of experience”

(Richard Schechner)

#NextLibraryPlay

What charactizes playful people?

CuriosityCourage

UnpredictabilityEmpathy

Imagination

Resilience

#NextLibraryPlaySubversiveness

“To play fully & imaginatively is to step sideways into another reality, between the

cracks of ordinary life”

(Thomas S. Henricks)#NextLibraryPlay

“playful behaviour and playful thought can generate radically new approaches to challenges set by the physical and social

environment”

(Bateson & Martin)#NextLibraryPlay

Playful people does not seek order or

equilibrium, but embrace the constant

movement

#NextLibraryPlay

“Playfulness means taking over a world to

see it through the lens of play, to make it shake and laugh and crack

because we play with it” (Miguel Sicart)

#NextLibraryPlay

What does this mean – for libraries & all of us??

#NextLibraryPlay

The most important thing is not more games or (amazing!) playgrounds or…

#NextLibraryPlay

Internally:

#NextLibraryPlay

Could you embrace playfulness as a strategy in the transformation of

libraries?

#NextLibraryPlay

Externally:

Could you create libraries that to an even greater extent help people become more playful?

#NextLibraryPlay

PlayJam!“Don't make games for the community, help the community to make games for themselves”Scott Nicholson

#NextLibraryPlay

What is a ”jam”?

Make *something* in a set amount of time

#NextLibraryPlay

The Global Game Jam

” In January 2015, we had 518 locations in 78 countries create 5,438 games in one weekend! ”

#NextLibraryPlay

The Nordic Game JamMore than *700*

participants in 2015

#NextLibraryPlay

Play Jam

Form groups of 3-4-5 people

#NextLibraryPlay

Play Jam

Create a new form of play in 30 minutes

#NextLibraryPlay

Play JamYou can use what you have

in your pockets, your bodies & the props

provided.

#NextLibraryPlay

Play Jam

Design is an iterative process

#NextLibraryPlay

Play JamPick one as your theme/dogma:

Let’s figure that out together – what are your

favorite values or principles?

#NextLibraryPlay

Play JamPick one as your theme/dogma:

DiscoveryExcitement

Sensing

#NextLibraryPlay

Play Jam

Now try each others ”games”

#NextLibraryPlay

Play JamHow was that?

Thoughts? New ideas?

#NextLibraryPlay

Time to play a final game?

#NextLibraryPlay

Any final thoughts or comments?

Let’s talk!@mathiaspoulsen

mathias@counterplay.org

THANK YOU for PLAYING!

#NextLibraryPlay

I also mentioned:• Bernie DeKoven• Brian Sutton-Smith• Copenhagen Game Collective• JS Joust• Ludocity• Miguel Sicart – ”Play Matters”