Identity at Play

Identity at Play is a creative project inquiry founded in communications theory which delves into how individuals construct their identities and understanding of the world around them, specifically through engagement with Tabletop Roleplay Games. TTRPGs, as they are colloquially known, have a variety of attributes that hold a unique capacity for fostering safe identity exploration and development of the self. These attributes– both in gameplay mechanics and communities they foster– allow individuals to feel secure and safe to explore hidden parts of themselves and experiment in new perspectives. Explicitly, the project culminates in six narrated episodes of actual play content and six paired talkback sessions to debrief, creating an immersive and engaging storytelling experience for the audience that exemplifies the inquiry at hand. Over the course of the podcasting series, six participants– five players and one gamemaster– engage with the traditional TTRPG experience and grow together in their understanding of various communications theories.