Rätsel stellen, Rätsel lösen

Panel discussion as part of the inaugural conference of the DFG network The Allure of the Riddle: Frage und Antwort zugleich. Das Rätsel als dialogische Struktur und narratives Muster in Literatur, Film und Spiel

The panel discussion featuring riddle creator Stefan Heine and ludologist Jens Junge explores the appeal of riddles. What connects the riddle, as an “artificial challenge” (J. Junge), to other forms of games and play, and what functions does it serve? What do such diverse forms of riddles as crossword puzzles, escape rooms, and murder mysteries have in common? And why, once a riddle has been set, does it not let us go until we have solved it? The discussion will explore the various genres and media forms of the riddle, analyze riddle-setting techniques, creation and solving processes, and examine the motivations behind why we so enjoy setting and solving riddles, especially in the context of play.

Stefan Heine is a German riddle master. He is the author and publisher of puzzle books and magazines, as well as the volume Ich rätsle, also bin ich … schlau und glücklich (I Puzzle, Therefore I Am … Smart and Happy; Campus 2023), in which he explores the fascination of riddles.

Jens Junge is a game researcher and professor at SRH University of Applied Sciences, where he serves as director of the Institute for Ludology. His numerous publications address the phenomenon of playing as such, as well as specific analog and digital forms of play.

Moderators: Eva Axer (ZfL), Dana Steglich (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz)

Fig. above: Emily Morter (Unsplash)