Conversation · Steban, the Student Communist

This is your chance to show off your own critical faculties. Show them what an introspective cop looks like!

"... but then the whole book fell apart before I could solve the mystery..."

"That's an unfortunate quality of pulp fiction. Much of it is written to be disposable both on an intellectual and a material level."

"But at least crime literature as a genre is able to engage with the systemic failures of capitalism."

"... but really I just like him because I'm a cop too, you know?"

"Makes sense. It's natural to seek out reflections of your own experience in literature when the politico-economic system doesn't permit genuine self-realization."

"... but in the end Mullen is a reflection of a politico-legal institution that's irreconcilably divided between protecting 'the people' and defending the material interests of capital."

The lieutenant doesn't speak, but you believe you detect a slight widening of his eyes, as though he never expected such a cogent thought to emerge from your mouth.

"A compelling point, for sure. We'd probably be better off if more police officers learned to think so reflectively about their social function."

This is a good start. They're starting to loosen up. You feel relaxed and in control. This is your area of expertise, after all...

"Honestly, I did get the impression there was something inhuman about her."

"The whole innocentic system practically requires that. Without true gods we're made to set them up for ourselves." He nods vigorously.

"Exactly. Lopez de Fuego totally glosses over all her mass murder."

"Ha! It's good you were able to see through even that gauzy nostalgic pulp."

"I'm a little rusty on my innocentic history, so it was helpful for me."

"I'll say that beginnings are very delicate things. That makes it all the more important that you start with the right books."

This is a good start. They're starting to loosen up. You feel relaxed and in control. You quickly gloss Lopez de Fuego's essential argument, peppering it with your own commentary and asides...

"But once you've got a political lens, you can read anything critically. Even those Hjelmdallermann books."

"Interesting. Say more about that..."

Now's your chance to end this interview on a high-note. Soon you're in a lively back and forth on the political substrata of the Hjelmdallermann universe...

Even if they won't admit it, these two love blood and sex as much as anyone.

"... but don't you think that pornographic fascist mythology gets pretty tiresome after a few books?"

He nods to your shirt. "No offence, of course."

Let them know your interest in muscleman literature is much more high-minded than they're giving you credit for.

"Oh, certainement. I'm more interested in them as cultural artifacts."

"Ah, well there's certainly value in that kind of reading. Comrade Mazov says something on that note in his collected speeches..."

"'To find victory in the cultural war we must first scout the battlefield'."

"No way, I live for that kind of stuff."

"Ha! Of course you do. I just hope when you're reading it you've got a sturdy pair of gloves on..."

"Can't let any of the dreck rub off on you."

"Nah, it's just good escapist fun."

"Oh, sure, we don't mean to deny the value of pleasure in reading."

This is a good start. They're starting to loosen up. You feel relaxed and in control. Soon you're in a lively back and forth on the political substrata of the Hjelmdallermann universe...

"That reminds me, Kim and I just played this interesting game, 'Suzerainty'."

"Oh, right. We've been meaning to try that out."

Now's your chance to end this interview on a high-note. Soon you're engaged in a thoughtful back-and-forth about the relationship between theme and mechanics...

Best of all, your arguments are liberally seasoned with references to particular historical events and personages.

"... but then my issue with these historical cube-pushers is that they offer the illusion of subjectivity even as they reinscribe the logic of colonialism itself..."

"... though I'd love to hear your take on it."

"For me, games are mostly about spending time with a partner."

"He's only saying that because he got the better of me, somehow..."

"Listen, this is a forward-thinking group. It's entirely your business, of course."

"Anyway, we also enjoy a good board game every once in a while. The other week Ulixes and I tried this new one where everyone is competing to manage their own Zone of Ecological Catastrophe. You should see the components."

"The irradiated waste tokens have this great metallic ochre sheen."

"Hmm. What is it they say about ties? That they're like kissing your sister... or in this case, I suppose, your partner."

"He's only saying that because he likes getting thrashed like a schoolboy."

"Yes, and it only took about four hours of our lives that we'll never get back."

"With his 'partner', he says."

"But by allowing players to recreate historical events, like the introduction of cocaine to Safre, doesn't it force them to question what 'subjectivity' means in a ludo-thematic context?"

"Interesting. So you're saying that in a certain sense the game plays the players as much as they play the game?"

"Hmm. Then what does that make the game designers?"

"Malevolent deities."

"Superstars."

"Just people working a job, like any other."

"I thought it was pretty fun. No need to intellectualise it too much."

"Of course. The one thing capitalism does better than every other ideology is novel and clever distractions. It's all one never-ending dopamine dripper."

Capitalism rules, is what he seems to be saying.

"Drip after drip after drip after drip..." The young man's companion appears to be mashing his fist into his palm.

This is a good start. They're starting to loosen up. You feel relaxed and in control. Soon you're engaged in a thoughtful back-and-forth about the relationship between theme and mechanics...

This is a good start. They're starting to loosen up. You feel relaxed and in control. This is a subject where you hold all the advantages...