Zeigfried proposed this lens. I like it. It makes me think of art as something which
intentionally challenges you to enjoy it.Rather than
ask how it could be different, (http://newforum.droqen.com/index.php?topic=25.0) the question "How does this want to be played?" provides an inroad to play.
The nature of play is acceptance.
It's fun to propose theories and then ask "what if?"; the proposal of the theory itself is not play, but going with a prompt is the source of play; to take limitations and see where they take us...
Suppose X
Imagine X
etc.
These are, like 'proposed theories' (or 'hypotheses' but honestly i just mean off-the-wall ideas that one takes and runs with), prompts. Invitations to play, if you know what you're looking for.
If I say X is true, we might be able to play with the idea if we agree. Or, we might disagree, and then an argument or negotiation over the truth value of X might take place, instead of play.
If I say Suppose or Imagine X is true, it's a prompt to play. Still, it's not like this form of prompt is immune. We might disagree on whether it is worth playing.