Episode 24: Emily Friedman, Actual Play, Critical Role, and Utopianism

In this episode, we speak with Emily Friedman, the Jean Wickstrom Liles Associate Professor at Auburn University, an 18th-century literary scholar by training who has become one of the leading academic experts on TTRPGs (tabletop role-playing games) like Dungeons & Dragons and 'Actual Play'.

In speaking with Emily about TTRPGs and Actual Play, we consider how playing TTRPGs or watching or producing Actual Play content can be considered utopian: they are collaborative practices, often hold progressive values, allow us to measure different modes of living in both utopian and dystopian settings, and are rooted in care.

Emily and Matt spend some time discussing Actual Play as a genre and consider how it unlocks possibilities not seen in other literary modes. This leads to a chat about Critical Role, one of the biggest Actual Play series (one of Matt and Liam's not-so-guilty interests!), and the utopianism found in the stories they tell and the community they have built.

In closing, Emily and Matt turn to the political elements of TTRPGs and Actual Play, with Emily then sharing details of her upcoming projects and making a few recommendations for our listeners.

You can find out more about Emily and her work on her website, on X, and on Bluesky.

If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know! You can follow and rate the podcast, leave us a comment, or email us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠utopiananddystopianfictions@gmail.com

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(24)

Episode 23: Jess Norledge, Dystopian Language, and the Language of Dystopia

In this episode, we speak with Jess Norledge, an Assistant Professor in Stylistics at the University of Nottingham.Our conversation with Jess centres on the relationship between language and dystopian...

29 Maj 1h 15min

Episode 22: Jacqueline Dutton, 'Indigenous Futurism', and Utopianism and Place

In this bumper episode, we are joined by Jacqueline Dutton, a Professor in French Studies at the University of Melbourne, celebrate Matt's latest publication, and announce a competition!Our conversati...

24 Apr 1h 28min

Episode 21: Author Interview - Daniel Olivas, 'Chicano Frankenstein', and Immigration

In this episode, we are joined by Daniel Olivas, who - as well as having a successful career as a lawyer in California - is an acclaimed author of several works of prose fiction, poetry, dramatic text...

27 Mars 1h 19min

Episode 20: Taylor Cavallo and Mark Gatto, Work Dystopias and the Business of Gender

In this episode we are joined by two guests, Taylor Cavallo (an Instructor at the University of Minnesota) and Mark Gatto (Assistant Professor in Critical Organisation Studies at Northumbria Universit...

27 Feb 1h 19min

Episode 19: Author Interview - Paul E. Hardisty, "The Hope", and Ecodystopia.

In this episode, we speak with Paul E. Hardisty, an environmental scientist, keen conservationist, and novelist known first for his 'Claymore Straker' series and, most recently, 'The Forcing' trilogy ...

30 Jan 1h 9min

Episode 18: Amy Brookes, Architecture and Speculative Fiction

We begin Season 3 of the Utopian and Dystopian Fictions Podcast by chatting with Amy Brookes, an architect and Associate Lecturer at the University of Reading.In our conversation with Amy, we turn our...

9 Jan 1h 25min

Episode 17: Halloween Special (Season 2 Finale) - Dystopia and Horror

In this Season 2 Finale, Matt and Liam spend some time looking back at Season 2 of the Utopian and Dystopian Fictions podcast and chatting about what's to come in Season 3, before then discussing a ve...

31 Okt 202556min