Playopolis

In this episode of Playopolis we hear a conversation between Quentin Stevens, Rachel Iampolski, Troy Innocent and Kiri Delly recorded at twosixty. about an experimental, playful parklet.

Parklets have rapidly become part of urban landscapes everywhere during the pandemic. While rapid changes to planning policy that enable more space for people in our cities are a positive development, most parklets are not public spaces in which everyone is welcome. Can parklets be reclaimed as a form of tactical urbanism? How do we make parklets playful again?

In this episode of Playopolis we hear from urban designer Quentin Stevens about his concept of the ludic city. He has been studying urban play in Melbourne before and during the pandemic, and is interested in the ways in which the city is being reshaped and reimagined.

In the second half of the program, we travel back to Japan with research and artist Hugh Davies, to continue exploring the pre-history of the hit augmented reality game Pokémon Go. He takes us back to the practice of shrine pilgrimage in feudal Japan, connecting it with the super popular ‘stamp rallies’ that happen across the national rail network.

In this episode, we talk to game designer, curator and writer Holly Gramazio about situating invitations to play in public space in her own work and as director of Now Play This. The conversation continues as she reflects on her experience as co-author on Bernie De Koven's last book, The Infinite Playground: A Player’s Guide to Imagination, that traverses his incredible legacy of fun theory and play design.

And in the second half of the program, we’ll travel to Japan with researcher and artist Dr Hugh Davies, where we’ll explore the first in a two part story on the pre-history of the hit augmented reality game Pokemon Go.

In this episode we are returning to a conversation held during Melbourne Design Week in March 2020 about the multiplicity of place arising from urban play. It begins with how First Peoples connection to place creates ways of being that enable reimagination, reconnection and reconfiguration of the world.

Boon Wurrung elder, N’arweet Carolyn Briggs speaks with RMIT academic Dr Olivia Guntarik, ACMI’s Seb Chan and Dr Troy Innocent about her knowledge and experience of place, navigating two knowledge systems in her daily life in Melbourne - the city that is now and the patterns that lie beneath that city.

In the second part of this episode, we talk to Lee Shang Lun about play as a methodology for anti-disciplinary art - returning to the role of The Situationists in reshaping cities and urban life.

In this episode of Playopolis, we’ll hear a conversation with McKenzie Wark as she resituates the Situationist International, talks about living in New York in 2020, and speculates on how seeds for other ways of life may rise from modern ruin.

McKenzie Wark is known for her writings on media theory, critical theory, new media, and the Situationist International. Her recent books include Capital is Dead and Reverse Cowgirl.

Following that is the story of the rise and fall of Jafflechutes. In 2014, on the windiest Autumn day in twenty years, Jafflechutes launched itself into the world... and promptly got stuck in a tree. We talk to the co-founders of this world first 'float-down pop up' eatery about what works, and what really doesn't, in the world of parachutable food.

A short chat between Rachael and Troy talking through 2020 and new stories coming up in 2021.

In this episode of Playopolis, we'll hear the second in our package of highlights from Restart the World, a panel conversation hosted by Playable City Melbourne during the recent Melbourne International Games Week.

Participants in the discussion include Millie Cattlin (Testing Grounds), Fiona Hillary (MAPS), Valli Morphett (Design Jam) and Pete Vigeant (PacManhattan).

After that, we'll pay homage to Bar SK, Melbourne's former epicentre of weird beers and trash games. We interviewed some of Bar SK's resident artists, friends and barflies as they recount what made SK special and significant to Melbourne's creative and game-making community. Featuring Joanna Tran, Ian McLarty, Louie Roots, Kristy Dosser, Lee Shang Lun, Holly Gramazio and Huw Parkinson.

Music credits: 'You've Got Mail' soundtrack by Zen Dexter, Breezesquad, 'How to be a Blackbird' sound design by Holly Gramazio, 'Stickets' sound design by PlayReactive, 'JUMPGRID' soundtrack by Ian McLarty

Restarting the post-pandemic world; and more of Melbourne's untranslatable words  

Welcome back to Playopolis! In this episode, we hear highlights from Restart the World, a panel conversation hosted by Playable City Melbourne during the recent Melbourne International Games Week.   

Participants in the discussion include RMIT Honorary Associate Professor Esther Anatolitis, City of Port Phillip Arts and Creative Industries Coordinator Paul Callaghan and Play Australia Executive Director Barb Champion.  

In the second part of our episode, we explore more of Melbourne's 'untranslatable' words with 64 Ways of Being language researcher Rachael Vorwerk. 

For the past year, Rachael has been interviewing Melbourne's diverse communities about words that can only be translated to English through story. In this episode, Rachael explores words that are connected to place, and how they can be used to evoke feelings that connect us to culture.

Episode credits:

Host: Troy Innocent

Research & Production: Angelina Crutchfield, Adam Grant, Rachael Vorwerk, Jason Le & Troy Innocent

Theme music by Huw Parkinson

Promo host: Dewani Shebubakar

In this episode of Playopolis, we explore aspects of language, and how words and language allow us to shape the world around us. How do our worlds differ based on the language that we use? And how do they connect and intersect?  

In part one we speak with La Trobe University academic and Lingthusiasm podcast host Dr Lauren Gawne, and RMIT University academic and language researcher Dr Kerry Mullan to find out how to read a city by decoding the traces of language and culture that we find when exploring and observing our streets and laneways.

In part two, we explore Melbourne's 'untranslatable' words with 64 Ways of Being language researcher Rachael Vorwerk. For the past year, Rachael has been interviewing Melbourne's diverse communities about words that can only be translated to English through story. She asks the question:  Can a simple word shape how we experience the world?

Playopolis is produced by 64 Ways of Being on the lands of the Woi Wurrung and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.   

64 Ways of Being is a free augmented reality app that allows players to see Melbourne through new eyes.  Coming in late 2020. Find out more at 64waysofbeing.com

Episode credits:

Host: Troy Innocent

Research & Production: Angelina Crutchfield, Adam Grant, Rachael Vorwerk, Jason Le & Troy Innocent

Theme music by Huw Parkinson

Promo host: Dewani Shebubakar

What makes a city playable?  

In part one of the first episode of Playopolis, we talk to two of the world's leading advocates for playable cities, Clare Reddington and Hilary O’Shaughnessy from Watershed, about their mission to restore agency and creativity to cities through games and play. 

And in part two, we take a deep dive into the weird and wonderful world of Randonauting - a random walking app that uses quantum random numbers to reveal glitches in the edge of the simulation.  Featuring interviews and contributions from creative technologist Gerard Mason, Randonautica founder Joshua Lengfelder, Australian National University's Department of Quantum Physics Professor Ping Koy Lam, and media scholar Dr Siobhan Lyons. 

Playopolis is produced by 64 Ways of Being on the lands of the Woi Wurrung and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.  

64 Ways of Being is a free augmented reality app that allows players to see Melbourne through new eyes.  Coming in late 2020. Find out more at 64waysofbeing.com 

Episode credits: 

Host: Troy Innocent 

Research & Production: Angelina Crutchfield, Adam Grant & Troy Innocent 

Theme music by Huw Parkinson 

Promo host: Dewani Shebubakar 

Production support by Gerard Mason  and Jen Walsh