PhD Oral Exam - Leonardo Abate, Individualized Program in Fine Arts

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

The goal of this thesis is to cover the entrance in Italy of the tabletop roleplaying game hobby, as well as document its spread across the peninsula and the development of a local, insular community of enthusiasts over the first fifteen years of its existence in the country. This serves the purpose of bringing to the attention of anglophone readers a local gaming history that has never been documented in the English language, constructing a body of sources comprised of interviews with members of the community, original games and publications of the ‘80s, and translations of Italian literature on the topic that was never released outside of the country, which can form the basis for further research into Italian roleplaying. Beyond this overarching goal, the thesis also establishes the unique traits that characterized the Italian RPG scene at different points during its development, highlighting what made it unique in the context of the international roleplaying industry, its relationship with the latter, as well as how the activity of these first years of operations by a handful of passionate fans informed the trajectory of the community up to the present day.