I think you're taking the word "game" in the wrong sense, though -- as far as I'm concerned, it's simply historical jargon, and doesn't really mean "game" in any sense that you probably understand it. Modern LARP, at least my wing of it (it varies a lot), is very much an artform, one that is quite close to novels and theater. And like those forms, it is often used for difficult topics.
(Serious question: if I called this "improvisational theater", would your reaction differ? Why? Aside from the lack of an audience, there is essentially zero difference between the kind of LARPs I write and improv theater.)
Basically, to me, there is *nothing* different (and I mean that pretty literally) about writing a LARP on this topic than writing a book or a play. The details of the medium vary, but the social and artistic impulses are basically the same. The most important purpose of any art (IMO) is to delve into the harder aspects of the human experience.
Your point is well-taken, and I'll be trying to deal with the issue honestly and sensitively, but I genuinely don't think *any* topic is simply out of bounds for LARP. Like any artform, it is *usually* used for simple entertainment, but at its best it strives for more.
(Keep in mind, as a lifelong and hardcore comic book reader, I am *very* sensitive to people saying, "This medium is inappropriate to this topic", and usually disagree quite strongly...)
no subject
I think you're taking the word "game" in the wrong sense, though -- as far as I'm concerned, it's simply historical jargon, and doesn't really mean "game" in any sense that you probably understand it. Modern LARP, at least my wing of it (it varies a lot), is very much an artform, one that is quite close to novels and theater. And like those forms, it is often used for difficult topics.
(Serious question: if I called this "improvisational theater", would your reaction differ? Why? Aside from the lack of an audience, there is essentially zero difference between the kind of LARPs I write and improv theater.)
Basically, to me, there is *nothing* different (and I mean that pretty literally) about writing a LARP on this topic than writing a book or a play. The details of the medium vary, but the social and artistic impulses are basically the same. The most important purpose of any art (IMO) is to delve into the harder aspects of the human experience.
Your point is well-taken, and I'll be trying to deal with the issue honestly and sensitively, but I genuinely don't think *any* topic is simply out of bounds for LARP. Like any artform, it is *usually* used for simple entertainment, but at its best it strives for more.
(Keep in mind, as a lifelong and hardcore comic book reader, I am *very* sensitive to people saying, "This medium is inappropriate to this topic", and usually disagree quite strongly...)