Dr. John Sharp explores the true meaning of fun, its role in perception, culture, and society, and how embracing vulnerability and play can transform our lives. John shares his insights on game design, aesthetics, social change, and the importance of play as a humanistic act. Discover fun as a mode of experience that engages and connects.

• The relationship of fun and taste to games
• The conceptualization of fun as an aesthetic and cultural experience
• How fun compares and contrasts with beauty in art and design
• The role of vulnerability in playful experiences
• Misconceptions and resistance to the idea that fun is serious and valuable
• The importance of recognizing failure and uncertainty in play

Resources

John Sharp Parsons Profile - https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/faculty/john-sharp/

Fun, Taste, & Games: An Aesthetics for the Idle, Unproductive, and Otherwise Playful - https://ftgbook.com/

Works of Game: On the Aesthetics of Games and Art - https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262029070/works-of-game/

Games, Design, and Play: A Detailed Approach to Iterative Game Design - http://www.gamesdesignandplay.com/

Iterate: Ten Lessons on Design and Failure - https://direct.mit.edu/books/book/4324/IterateTen-Lessons-in-Design-and-Failure

Bernie DeKoven - https://www.deepfun.com/

Raph Koster, A Theory of Fun - https://www.theoryoffun.com/

Explore the playful life of plants. Discover how gardening can be a source of fun, healing, and connection in this lively conversation with Maddie Cryer, a licensed clinical social worker and horticultural therapist. Learn about the therapeutic benefits of gardening, how to start small, and how nurturing plants may be the most fun you have this week.

• What is horticultural therapy?
• The history of horticultural therapy and its roots in post-WWI veteran care.
• Physiological and social-emotional benefits of spending time with plants and nature.
• Practical tips for beginners: start with houseplants or quick-turnover crops like radishes.
• The relational and playful aspects of caring for plants—plants as personalities, conversation partners, and mirrors.
• Why plants are fun!

Resrouces

Radicle Joy https://www.radiclejoy.com/

Colorado State Extension Gardening https://extension.colostate.edu/topic/garden-landscape/

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Danielle Scroggs, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist and founder of Adaptive Gaming Consulting. Discover how adaptive gaming is transforming lives by making play inclusive and meaningful, and why fun is a vital part of recovery, identity, and social connection.

• What is adaptive gaming and who is it for?
• Why fun is essential in health, rehabilitation, and quality of life
• Common misconceptions about disabled gamers and their capabilities
• How gaming fosters social connection and community
• The significance of enjoying play competitively or leisurely, on your own terms

Resources

Adaptive Gaming Consulting - https://adaptivegamingconsulting.com/

Able Gamers - https://www.ablegamers.org/

Xbox Accessibility Resources -https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2022/03/01/introducing-xbox-accessibility-team/

Warfighter Engage Controllers - https://warriorengage.com/

Evil Controllers - https://evilcontrollers.com/