Peter D. McDonald
Author and scholar in curriculum and instruction with a background in English literature and game design, author of The Impossible Reversal: A History of How We Play (University of Minnesota Press, 2026).
Top 3 podcasts with Peter D. McDonald
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Apr 11, 2026 • 31min
Peter D. McDonald, "The Impossible Reversal: A History of How We Play" (U Minnesota Press, 2026)
Peter D. McDonald, an academic and author who studies the cultural history of play, explores how twentieth-century artists, designers, and engineers reshaped what play means. He outlines four styles of designed play, traces role-playing from therapy to corporate life, and considers digital and pervasive forms like ARGs and TTRPGs. The conversation maps play as a plural, historically grounded phenomenon.
Apr 11, 2026 • 31min
Peter D. McDonald, "The Impossible Reversal: A History of How We Play" (U Minnesota Press, 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.
Apr 11, 2026 • 31min
Peter D. McDonald, "The Impossible Reversal: A History of How We Play" (U Minnesota Press, 2026)
Peter D. McDonald, an academic and professor studying literature, curriculum, and game design, discusses the cultural history of play. He traces mid-20th-century shifts from Fluxus to SimCity. He outlines four styles of designed play and explores how play moves between resistance and control. He ends with reflections on digital culture and future forms of play.
