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Live Action Role-Play (abbreviated as LARP) is a subculture of people who physically portray their own characters and partake in immersive storytelling experiences. LARPers participate in collaborative fictional settings, which involve highly elaborate costumes, props, and in-game rules to guide their interactions and shape the narrative.
There are many aesthetics associated with Live Action Role-Play,[Note 1] designed to evoke a specific time period, genre, or theme. Some of the most common settings within this practice include Historical (most notably Medieval), Fantasy, or Sci-Fi, but it can also encompass any other genre of fiction or historical era.
History[]
Live Action Role-Playing games emerged independently in various regions, including North America, Europe, and Australia, during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Early LARP groups drew inspiration from multiple sources like genre fiction, tabletop role-playing games (such as Dungeons & Dragons), and childhood games like make believe. Other influences included improvisational theater, historical reenactment groups (like the Society for Creative Anachronism), and even military simulations.
One of the earliest documented LARP groups, Dagorhir, was founded in the United States in 1977 and focused on fantasy battles. Around the same time, the release of the film Logan's Run in 1976 sparked the creation of LARPs based on the movie's setting. The early 1980s saw the formation of more organized LARP groups and the development of more structured game systems. In the United States, the International Fantasy Gaming Society (IFGS) originated in 1981, drawing inspiration from both D&D and the fictional LARP group depicted in the novel Dream Park. In the United Kingdom, Treasure Trap, founded in 1982, became an influential early LARP, shaping the development of fantasy-themed live action role-play.
The 1990s witnessed the popularization and diversification of LARP. Mind's Eye Theatre, first released in 1993, achieved international popularity and remains one of the most commercially successful published LARP systems. Live Action Role-Play also gained popularity in Germany during this decade, with large-scale events attracting thousands of participants from all over Europe. LARP has evolved into a global phenomenon, with an entire industry supporting it through the production of costumes, props, and weapons. LARP encompasses a wide range of genres and styles, from small, intimate games to large-scale events with thousands of players. More recently, LARP has gained populairty in China, with its "Jubensha" style gaining significant popularity in the late 2010s.
Aesthetics[]
Historical[]
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Medieval[]
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Fantasy[]
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Sci-Fi[]
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Nordic LARP[]
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Horror[]
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Fashion[]
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Props[]
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Community[]
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Distinction from Cosplay[]
Although LARP and Cosplay share some similarities, there are various differences between the two. Cosplay primarily involves recreating the appearance of characters from specific sources like anime, comics, or video games. Cosplayers often attend conventions and events to show their costumes and participate in photoshoots or competitions. LARP, on the other hand, is primarily based on interactive storytelling and role-playing within a shared fictional setting. Participants create characters and engage in unscripted interactions with others, guided by in-game rules. The main focus is on embodying a character and contributing to an ongoing story, rather than solely representing it.
Controversy[]
Misuse of the Term[]
After the January 6th 2021 attack on the United States Capitol in Washington D.C, the term "LARP" has been widespreadly thrown around and misused in various ways.[1] It is often used to describe and dismiss behaviors with negative connotations, which are completely unrelated to the original concept and do not represent the true essence of Live Action Roleplay. This misuse can create confusion or fuel misconceptions about LARPing as a hobby and community.
Some of these new definitions include:
- Far-right terrorist organizations, particularly those associated with accelerationist militant ideologies, have been accused of "LARPing" as revolutionaries or soldiers. This use of the term suggests that their actions are performative and not to be taken seriously, which could undermine the true danger they pose. Furthermore, the FBI published an article debunking the connection between LARP and violent extremism.[2] (Examples: Atomwaffen Division and other Siege Culture groups).
- Larpercore is an internet subculture that involves online groups that use extremely edgy aesthetics and primarily engage in cyberbullying or extortion, and to some extent, political extremism (though not as serious as actual terrorist organizations, like shown above). Members of this subculture were nicknamed "LARPers" because they often have overestimated perceptions of their own online danger and power, and it is not actually related to Live Action Role-Play at all. Additionally, "Larpercore" activities primarily happen on the internet, which only further disconnect it from what LARP truly is.
- "LARP" is sometimes used to describe individuals perceived as pretentious or putting on a façade. This implies that they are inauthentically portraying themselves to impress others or gain social status. (Example: Someone adopting an affected accent or persona to appear more sophisticated).
- In some internet communities, the term "LARP" has been also used to dismiss anemoia and fake nostalgia. This implies that they are expressing nostalgia for a time period they didn't actually live through. (Example: Roblox players pretending to be "OG" players, or the Femcel Weeaboo community with its anemoia for 4chan during the mid-2000s).
- Some individuals belonging to second-generation or third-generation diasporas in the United States and Canada have been accused of "LARPing" as their cultural heritage. This especially occurs when their connection to said culture is perceived as "inaccurate" or "disconnected" from the current situation of the ethnic group, or when they perpetuate harmful stereotypes and employ a victim mentality. However, it should be noted that dismissing other people's cultural experiences can be hurtful. (Example: The Irish-American community is often accused of LARPing as Irish on platforms like Reddit).
Media[]
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