Editorial note: Any views expressed in an article published in Nordiclarp.org do not necessarily represent the views of the editors or an endorsement of the article.
This anonymous article was originally published in the Knudepunkt 2023 underground book larp truths ready to see the light (editors unknown). It was then republished in the Solmukohta 2024 book, and has been reprinted from there with the editors’ permission. It has not been edited by Nordiclarp.org.
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Forward by editor Kaisa Kangas for the 2024 Solmukohta book: It has been a tradition to publish a book like this one in connection with SK/KP – a tradition so honored that the lack of an official book last year caused a small outrage (see Pettersson 2023). Even then, there was an underground pdf book known as The Secret Book of Butterflies that consisted of short essays by anonymous writers. I have decided to republish some of them here.
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Some years ago, a wonderful thing happened.
Larpers in the four Nordic countries developed a remarkable community and discourse around this phenomenon called ”Nordic larp.” At KP/SK, they met each year, to talk about it and to share thoughts and experiences with each other.
Over time, larpers in other countries heard about this: they read the Nordic larp writings, and imported some of what they found there into their own domestic larping scenes.
Some of them attended KP, and made their own contributions to the developing conversation. They were made welcome by the regulars, who were (mostly) glad that their ideas were being shared more widely. Now, as a result of this, we have a scene that might be called Nordic-inspired international larp.
All over Europe, in the USA, and perhaps elsewhere too: larps are being run for people from a wide range of countries, in the English language, incorporating design and practice elements that were originally developed in Nordic larp.
Who takes part in these ‘international larp’ events?
Usually, a mix of people from the local larping scene, and cosmopolitan types who enjoy larping in other lands.
These include some people from the original Nordic core.
Meanwhile, ”Nordic larps” in the traditional sense are still taking place in the Nordic countries. But they are dwarfed, in number and in coverage, by this new international scene.
The child is devouring the parent.
The same thing can be seen at KP. Not so long ago, it was a 200- 300 person event that was 80% Nordic: now, it’s a 500-600 person event that’s majority non-Nordic.
And, although the superstar system ensures that keynotes and other high-visibility items are still in Nordic hands, the bulk of the programme is provided and presented by international larpers, for an international audience. Is this good or is it bad?
All we can really say is: it’s different.
But is it time to recognize that international larp is its own thing, and deserves its own annual get-together – rather than progressively cannibalizing KP?
Why not a conference that rotates around the countries where international larps take place – or that’s at one fixed location centrally within Europe?
It would probably be cheaper to hire a suitable venue and accommodation in a non-Nordic country, for one thing. And it would probably be easier for most internationals to get to.
And then, what might it mean for KP to get back to being focused on Nordic larp, in the Nordic countries?
Of course, it shouldn’t be oblivious to the rest of the larping world.
But nor should it be dominated by it.
International larp is a tremendous thing, and it deserves to thrive and grow. But not at the expense of the Nordic larp that it borrows so heavily from.
And perhaps KP should not be facilitating such a takeover.
References
Pettersson, Juhana. 2023. “The Wisdom of the Community.” Nordic Larp Talks. YouTube, May 28.
Please cite as:
Anonymous. 2024. “Nordic Larp is not ”International Larp”: What is KP for?” In Liminal Encounters: Evolving Discourse in Nordic and Nordic Inspired Larp, edited by Kaisa Kangas, Jonne Arjoranta, and Ruska Kevätkoski. Helsinki, Finland: Ropecon ry.
Cover photo: Image by Kelly on Pexels.
