GNS/Creative Agenda related to Bernard Suits' Game Theory

[Gerhi Janse van Vuuren]

Trying to dive into the deep end here.

I am writing up my masters dissertation in drama studies where I look at Bernard Suits theory of make believe games as he set it out in his book, The Grasshopper, Games, Life and Utopia (1978). Suits defines a game shortly as the voluntary overcoming of unneccessary obstacles. For this he uses the concepts of prelusory goal, lusory means, constitutive rules and the lusory attitude as defining features of the basis of all games.

In my research practice I used the D&D 3rd ed system as organising tool to devise a theatre play to be performed later. Despite achieving a performance the process failed miserably in that the actors were not able to be truly collaborative participants. I most definetely railroaded them towards a specific performance idea I had. In my analysis of the process I focussed on Bernard Suits' theory but were aware of the Threefold Model/GNS and suspected that it could throw a lot of relevant light on my analysis. In the crunch of writing up my dissertation it is clear to me that the Big Model and creative agenda/GNS is vital in relation to Bernard Suits' theory.

I would like to know if anybody familiar with GNS is also familiar with Bernard Suits' theory and have any ideas on the relationship between these?

[Alan]

This looks like a duplicate thread.  I suggest continuing the discussion in the other one, where I've already posted: http://www.indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=13533