Through play—yes, the seemingly frivolous activity of children and young animals —we can learn to appreciate how systems work and deepen our appreciation of the complexity and interdependence of ecological and cultural systems. The understanding that arises happens not only in our minds but also through our bodies, emotions, and the tactile nature of our shared interactions as we directly participate in these systems together.

In these sessions, we shall play. Play, play, play. Children’s games, playground games, systems games, language games, wild games, games for the sake of games, Running away, running after, pulling, pushing, turning in circles, relational, embodied, falling-over fun!

In this workshop, we’ll extend the principles developed in the first workshop to share and invent new games together. These games will use systemic principles to simulate the functions of different kinds of systems, such as swarms, organisms, collective minds, and computer algorithms. Together, we will become these systems through play.