Did We Forget How to Play? The Power of Social Imagination in Adult Life

When we think of play, our minds may turn directly to childhood. “Play is the work of the child,” educator Maria Montessori famously said.

Yet while play may be the province of the child, it is an innate capacity that remains potent throughout our lives—even if it has gone dormant. Psychoanalyst and social visionary Carl Jung engaged in practices of play until his death, crediting many of his greatest insights into the human psyche to his playful experiments.

Lately, play has emerged as a serious field of inquiry not only in the arts and therapy, but also in anthropology, theology, neuroscience, and experience design.

So what is play? Why do we play? And why does it feel newly urgent now—as we navigate adult life, seek meaningful connection, and respond to this particular cultural moment?

In his book Disruptive Play: The Trickster in Politics and Culture, Shepard Siegel writes: “If people can discern between the authentic contact and exhilaration of play, instead of branded, mediated, alienated pleasure, then we just might stumble and frolic our way to the Play Society.”

In this Olio, we’ll explore core principles of play through multiple fields of inquiry—and through direct experience. Together, we’ll engage in simple, playful investigations to access spontaneity and imagination in the present moment, using play as a way to feel more alive and to imagine new ways of being together.

This evening will take the form of an interactive talk, blending ideas, stories, and guided experiments.

Our Teacher for the Evening: Justine Williams (she/they)

Described as “wickedly funny” (SF Gate), Justine Williams is an artist, performer, filmmaker, and educator whose work centers play, collaboration, and social imagination. Since 2013, Justine has been on faculty at the Yale School of Drama, where they teach acting through play and guide interdisciplinary collaboration.

A celebrated teacher, Justine has led workshops internationally and runs The Play Society, a roving school and creative lab dedicated to training and new work development through an ethos of play and collaboration. They hold an MFA in Performance and Interactive Media Arts from CUNY/Brooklyn College.

 
Evening Flow
7:00 PM – Doors open. Settle in, grab a drink, and meet a friend.
7:30 PM – The Olio begins: an intimate, interactive lecture and guided exploration.
8:30 PM – Instead of a traditional Q&A, we shift into a social experience—discussing ideas with others in the room while the teacher joins and floats between conversations.