The Postmodern Joy of Role-Playing Games

<p> Historian Johan Huizinga once described game playing as the motor of humanity's cultural development, predating art and literature. Since the late 20th century, Western society has undergone a "ludification," as the influence of game-playing has grown ever more prevalent. At the same time, new theories of postmodernism have emphasized the importance of interactive, playful behavior.</p><p> Core concepts of postmodernism are evident in pen-and-paper role-playing, such as <