SOC 300M - Roleplaying Games in Society

Institution:

Westminster College (Salt Lake City)

Subject:

Sociology

Description:

Since the first publication of Dungeons and Dragons in 1974, roleplaying games have been viewed as an esoteric-even dangerous-pastime enjoyed by a fringe culture. This misconception ignores the long history of roleplaying in education (going back to ancient Greece), the popularity of parlor games with roleplaying elements in Renaissance and 19th-century Europe, not to mention the widespread use of roleplaying in theatre and of world-building in literature. Real Fantasy: Roleplaying Games in Society examines roleplaying games (RPGs) from rhetorical, literary, historical, philosophical, sociological, and psychological perspectives. We will examine how RPGs address the problem of evil, depict gender, and have inspired not only many aspects of popular culture but have informed forensic psychology. Assignments will include an ethnography based on first-hand observations of interactions in an RPG group.

Credits:

2.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.westminstercollege.edu

Phone Number:

(801) 484-7651

Regional Accreditation:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Calendar System:

Four-one-four plan

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