"How does this want to be played?"

[droqen]

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, the question "How does this want to be played?" provides an inroad to play.

The nature of play is acceptance.

[droqen]

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...

[droqen]

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.