Introducing play and politics

Play has always been intricately related to politics. What the two share, practically and conceptually, is a desire to create and hold on to worlds, incorporating, hybridizing, or weakening other and others’ worldings in the process. It is therefore not surprising that politics are often compared to or equated with games like chess or poker. The emergence of current media and media platforms, however, has challenged the familiar dynamics between play and politics. The ludic, interactive, and creative possibilities of digital media forms have put play at the heart of power and politics, making it more openly, whimsically, and capriciously focused on the politics of creating worlds and closing others down.