Mystical Experiences in Role-Playing Games – Lecture & party

Anna Milon's illustrated lecture dives into the unexpected transcendental experiences commonly reported in the world of live-action role playing games. These documented occurences (such as when one man described 'meeting the god Pan') transcend the limits of the game, raising questions of how and why. Dr Milon notes the long, intertwined history between ritual and play, and their shared use of the ‘magic circle’ – a term game scholar Johan Huizinga uses to describe a ‘space apart’ from everyday life.  After the talk, you are invited to stay for an informal soirée with open discussion and wine (included with the price ticket).

Dr Anna Milon is a postdoctoral research fellow at Nottingham Trent University. Her PhD thesis at the University of Exeter was on ‘The Horned God as Environmental Figure in Fantasy Fiction and Live Action Role-Play’.