House of Games: Deconstruction

[acrouch]

Continuing the series of discussion threads that each cover a game or exercise or format as thoroughly as possible. Known origins, how it's played, variations, alternate names, tips on teaching it, what its value is, etc.

This evening:

Deconstruction

This is a Long Form format. It starts with one rather long scene, which is followed by other, probably shorter, scenes that somehow connect to the first scene. Possible connections are:

* Characters return
* Characters of situations mentioned in the first scene appear in the subsequent scenes
* Subsequent scenes take place in the same environment as the first scene

The reason why the first scene should be fairly long is that it should provide enough information for other scenes to build on. The name `Deconstruction` can be interpreted as "Take a first scene, and then deconstruct it by using characters, locations, situations, played or referred to, and play/re-use those in further scenes".

[Matt]

Bob & Erika taught a really good formats class at the hideout a while back, this was one of the ones taught.

[arthursimone]

the Deconstruction is one of the classic "chicago-style" longforms

IO, UCB, (and increasingly CT) give lots of attention to the Harold, but I'm a huge fan of the endless possibilities of the Deconstruction. It can be as easy or challenging as you want it to be... I suppose that's true with many longforms, but this one gets the Jim Morrison award

[Spaztique]

Bob & Erika taught a really good formats class at the hideout a while back, this was one of the ones taught.

They also taught my class at Coldtowne the deconstruction, and spent plenty of time on it, too.

Not enough people do the deconstruction. It's FUN (to both do and watch) with a capital F - U - N.

[Lants]

this one gets the Jim Morrison award

yikes... you just made me want to stop doing the deconstruction.*





*not really, is very a-fun