February 23, 2023

Examining instances when play can be painful

Aaron Trammell, UCI assistant professor of informatics, is the author of the new book “Repairing Play, A Black Phenomenology,” published by MIT Press. Credit: University of California, Irvine
× close
Aaron Trammell, UCI assistant professor of informatics, is the author of the new book “Repairing Play, A Black Phenomenology,” published by MIT Press. Credit: University of California, Irvine

Beyond pleasure, is there emotional depth to play? Aaron Trammell, a researcher in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, answers this and related questions in a new book he wrote that examines differences in the way play is experienced on one hand by white people and on the other by Black, indigenous and people of color.

In the work, he suggests that the experiences of BIPOC individuals have been largely erased from . Titled "Repairing Play—A Black Phenomenology," the book was published this Black History Month by MIT Press.

"This is a book for and philosophers. I wanted to write it because there is so much soul to the concept of play, because play is beautiful, even when it is frustrating and painful," said Trammell, an assistant professor in the Department of Informatics. "When I wrote it, I had in mind anyone who has ever played a that made them cry. These meaningful and soulful elements of play work to center BIPOC people in what was previously a predominantly white conversation about 'fun and games.'"

Trammell suggests that even in seemingly nonconfrontational games, players subtly discipline on one another to stay within rules. The result is . Viewing games this way is a kind of "intellectual reparation," according to Trammell, who hopes his work will help readers focus on the deeply painful and traumatic aspects of play.

Trammell's ongoing research at UCI examines how games further white privilege and hegemonic masculinity with their players. He is the editor-in-chief of the journal Analog Game Studies and the multimedia editor of Sounding Out!

Load comments (0)

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked
trusted source
proofread

Get Instant Summarized Text (GIST)

This summary was automatically generated using LLM. Full disclaimer