Play in the Work of Carla Harryman

Abstract

“Play” in many senses is prevalent in the work of Carla Harryman. Some of the ways in which it occurs include the mixing of genres, lighthearted experimentation, specific references to child’s play, the creation of games, and the use of the play as genre. Harryman’s work plays with play. This contributes to a sense of absurdity and to her ability to address theory within a creative arena. The playful nature of much of her work allows Harryman to deal seriously with the irrational, to challenge conventional expectations of meaning, genre, and narrative, and to approach theory as a creative endeavor without abandoning aesthetic pleasure.