New Books Network Peter D. McDonald, "The Impossible Reversal: A History of How We Play" (U Minnesota Press, 2026)
Apr 11, 2026
Peter D. McDonald, author and scholar combining English literature and game design, explores how modern play was shaped after mid-20th century. He traces Fluxus experiments to corporate role-playing and video games. He outlines four styles like the impossible reversal and simulated freedom. The conversation surveys designed play, cultural shifts, and surprising links across art, toys, and tech.
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Play Is A Historical Construction
- Playfulness is historically and culturally constructed rather than a single timeless instinct.
- Peter D. McDonald contrasts Fluxus experiments with earlier playful forms to show play's meanings shift across contexts and eras.
The Impossible Reversal Defined
- The impossible reversal is a style of play that places players in hopeless scenarios overturned by a tiny perceptual shift.
- McDonald traces it from riddles and gambling to mid-20th-century machines like pinball and Fluxus puzzles.
Era Of Designed Play Centers Player Experience
- The era of designed play shifts focus from games-as-inventions to designing player experiences and feelings.
- McDonald argues 20th-century design disciplines converged to treat play as a technology shaping emotions and behavior.
