“The sessions that brought traditionally "non-academic" or heart-centered concepts, ideas, or disciplines into the world of academic inquiry were really profound for me. The Playfulness event [was] a primary example of that.” ~ Rohan Menon, Harman Fellow, Class of 2020
“Do not keep children to their studies by compulsion but by play.” ~ Plato
“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.” ~ Diane Ackerman, poet
Play or playfulness does not naturally come to mind when deep in your studies in the stacks of Doheny Library or finishing that term paper at 4 am, due at 9 am. It can seem counterintuitive to incorporate play into the “serious academic pursuit.” Albert Einstein, however, disagrees: “Play,” he said, “is the highest form of research.” Play -- meaningful, purposeful play -- cultivates in us greater creativity, unleashes our ability to think, and provides the ideal field for developing our problem-solving skills. Play can also open us up to new worlds of imagination and possibility. Our Harman Fellows agree--they voted the Polymathic Pizza on Playfulness the most memorable and impactful single session on their studies and their lives:
“I remember walking out of [the event on] Playfulness, feeling less pressure to structure and focus every minute of my day towards a pre-defined productive end.” ~ Shradha Jain, 2019 USC Baccalaureate and Harman Fellow
Games scholar Tracy Fullerton will guide us through her understanding of play and how it informs and shapes her scholarship and creative practice. She'll also help us consider how play and constraint might usefully be joined. Bringing meaningful, intentional play into our scholarly practice is polymathic. It cultivates a spirit of exploration, adaptability, and an openness to diversity of perspective, with the end-game being social connection and change.