- This topic has 7 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 10 months ago by Michelle A Shade.
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July 10, 2015 at 4:38 pm #145Benjamin Leif RowlesKeymaster
During our background research for the study, we found numerous definitions of “roleplay” is it pertains to WoW. However, most of these were made by academics and not by role-players themselves.
Thus, we want to ask you: how do you define roleplay?
July 11, 2015 at 4:38 pm #150LandrethGuestI think one of its simplest definitions is ‘collaborative storytelling.’
November 13, 2015 at 4:54 pm #193GrubGuestThat’s probably the simplest, most accurate definition. I’ve also seen and heard it likened to community theater, after a fashion.
May 18, 2016 at 4:28 am #345MerGuestRoleplay is self-expression and art. It always roleplayers to explore new identities and situations in a safe way and to create something unique. What separates it from strictly writing or creating another form of art (painting, music…) is that the audience is at once included, fellow artists of the same variety, and contributors.
By included I mean that you don’t have to try to show people your work; it’s part and parcel of the creation, and unless you’re disruptive, you can simply begin playing in any roleplay community and have your work immediately accepted and responded to. That can be very gratifying and for many is a big draw.
It’s also interesting that your audience is other roleplayers who are creating the same sort of art you are. There can be a vague sense of competition to create a more interesting, likable, or otherwise compelling character than the next roleplayer. But in the end everyone is in it to express what they want to express and you share an undeniable connection because of that. Roleplay communities can be very close-knit for this reason.
And of course your fellow roleplayers are contributors to your own work. Roleplay can result in stories elevated far beyond what a single author could have created (unless they were a master writer or genius) simply because it doesn’t require one person to fully grasp and express multiple unique identities and viewpoints. Stories can go in directions one person would have never imagined on their own.
But the most important thing is the fact that roleplay is art, and art is self-expression. No one roleplays who doesn’t really care about their character(s) or what happens to them. A character is a piece of the roleplayer, whether it be the representation of the person they’d like to be, an experiment to understand someone vastly different, or something in between. It’s no different than creating any other work of art, where the artist is trying to say something. It fulfills a human need to express themselves.
May 19, 2016 at 12:09 am #375Michelle A ShadeKeymastermind if we quote you? (no, seriously, I’d feel wrong quoting that very detailed and useful answer without your say-so)
May 29, 2016 at 5:38 am #400MerGuestAbsolutely, go for it.
May 29, 2016 at 5:39 am #405MerGuestJust do me a favor and correct “always” to allows at the beginning there. Haha.
June 1, 2016 at 9:46 am #415Michelle A ShadeKeymasterHaha, yeah, we’ll quote you the way you meant it. I’ll pretend I never saw any grammar or word errors 😉
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