The Animals Talked: An Exploration of Table-Top Roleplaying Games as Tools for Social Justice Pedagogy

Is it possible to play our way to liberation? The Animals Talked: An Exploration of Table-Top Roleplaying Games as Tools for Social Justice Pedagogy is a dual creative/academic project that seeks to affirm the use of table-top roleplaying games as pedagogic tools for teaching social justice. Through the application of a research through design methodology, this work weaves together perspectives from Black-American slave folktales, Queer theory, Black feminist thought, and Queer game studies in order to function as the scholarly basis for its game design. These academic perspectives are put in dialog with existing table-top roleplaying games, building on previous researchers and game designers' work to hone the pedagogic potential of table-top games. The resulting game, The Animals Talk, is a narrative-focused, table-top roleplaying game designed to encourage the practice of activist thought through play. This game highlights the pedagogical functions of table-top roleplaying games towards social justice and exemplifies how roleplaying activist praxis can gamify the development of activist consciousness. Ultimately, this project introduces a new tool for developing and encouraging social justice work. Using the safety of play, The Animals Talk develops players' proficiency in applying activist perspectives and strategies within the game world to inform and reinforce their ability to engage in “real world” activist praxis.