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Last night I attended the book launch of Cas Holman’s first release, Playful, which I am excited to have arrive via USPS in the next few days. I’ve followed Cas’ work closely over the last seven years or so—ever since I saw Netflix’s ABSTRACT episode which covered aspects of her astounding career. Her unique expression of creativity and ability to articulate the importance of unstructured free play sent me down a philosophical pathway which has enriched my life immensely.

During the Q&A portion of the event, an attendee asked how a spirit of playfulness can be cultivated in seemingly oppressive contexts— environments entrenched in grief, conflict, or heaviness. Cas responded that it was important not to underestimate the power of “small invitations,” and also talked about the role that clowns have traditionally played in culture. They misbehave so that others can stop being so self-conscious and rules-based. From costume to conduct, they intentionally fumble their dignity so that others can more easily surrender their own. The name of a wonderful non-profit I had never heard of, Clowns Without Borders, was invoked.

After thinking on it, I can’t help but feel that more than a few of the very popular modern streamers, like Kai Cenat, IShowSpeed, or Druski, play a similar role for younger generations. Their life is one big playground and they approach the world as something responsive—something they can push and count on to push back. While their humor or particular expression of mischief may not be to your particular taste, there’s no doubt that these performers are having fun. They display tremendous triumphs, hilarious mistakes, embarrassing rejections, and deprecating showclips. But they take it all in stride and emerge with grins intact. In ten years, after the space evolves and changes form, I expect that their current audience will think back on this time as the “heydey” of their internet, similar to how I remember the early days of Youtube and Myspace.

The types of play that streamers enter into are countless. There are improv skits, competitions, geographical explorations, and so much more. The flood of slang which pours so effortlessly from the mouth of today’s youth ultimately has it’s wellspring in streaming culture. This is, in no uncertain terms, a type of wordplay. Knowing the words, knowing when to deploy them, doing it effectively without being cringey, and—if you’re lucky— making up your own. It may not be high art, but its verbal frolic and its fun.

Naturally, there’s no shortage of valid criticism that can be leveled at streamers. Some are ribald and tasteless. Some are more market-oriented and overly spectacular. The tides of the internet may turn and the simplicity of this space may eventually be more corrupted. But, for now, it’s a place where clowns are still celebrated in the best sense of the word. I, for one, am cheering these young men and women on, and wanted my support to be on record. I hope they stay playing and I hope that their audiences continue to carry this mischief into old age.

Just a thought,

Bradley

About the Author
Bradley Andrews is a hopeful rabble-rouser on a mission to inspire the world. Stay in touch with what he’s doing by subscribing to a weekly digest of his activity through micro.blog. You can also gain access to his business and culture newsletter, Mercury’s Playbook, by clicking here.