THOMAS S$. HENRICKS Play Reconsidered SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN EXPRESSIONContents Acknowledgments vit ~1, lohan isingo's Challenge Play Studies 2. Kae! Marcon Creativity and Allenation 27 4 Bile Dares othe Soci! Foundations of Expression 53 4: Max Weber and the Rationalization f Play 78, “-5. Goo Simmel andthe Play-Forms of Social Life 109 6, Erving Goffman on Play as Encounter r46 N47 Playas Haman Expression 38 References 221 Index 2351 Johan Huizinga’s Challenge to Play Studies aman beings, iis sometizes sai long for both he conte ctry andthe impale We want a word led with res nd st Tieng expecienccs, bt we also want the comforts and stability of ome. Wie dese wo be bound to wander fel, and so tke what we pleas. Dur we slo want toe needed o have others Hol us down and make furlives worth We fney ourselves tobe dtncive,nevert-be ‘peated beings whose destiny eo se above thers, Yet we ery the ‘hj and companionship of thote very ater, and we would never ‘soa fart we cannot sense thei approbation. Part of us seks re ‘Sty and ebulion te other par sete and direction. Seeuty and feimlaton,permasence and change, innocence and knowledge, love nd nae nour ature to contemplate the oppositions of ie: AS ‘ousting, pp. 9slonce med dhe mater, we wank more than the ‘werd ean hol Perhaps no academic eld confronts hese contradictions and ambi eng ately asthe tody of human ply. or play he abo- ‘Reo of the pose To play fall and mazinatively sto step sideways {to anther elit, between she cracks of ordinary ie. Although tha inary worl so fil of cumbersome routines and responsibil, 3s el vine cous image, strangely, are robbed of hei powers. elec {hey lye eke the bjt ad ens froin life and hod hes) “iene wife eilden they unscrew reality rub ton their bois ‘Seoerie acto the oom Things ae dismanted and but new.Such reckless manipulation is customary only fr kiags and 58 uc in play allow are granted» etn dispensation fom the no thal consequences of glia, Players and shout and rom about o [oneanc Boilers econ opal garment, heroic personalities ae ‘rhioned,Doondary lines re dawn between rocks and texs, New Pa poses eemingly ofthe most seca or el character—are adopted Td chen pursued with fasnstd inensiy. Likewise, relations ee seen Pulse People become peents and children, deadly enemies ‘lobd bathe Setter adver sn new ways. To play Seep eR Snel ff tom the cots snd complies of life Rea at {ta poim, becomes a kd sods ball. Eventfalnes igs. “Holy inte terug of present over past and fae tsaould bent thathis present eam guckly eae the shape of folly developed ‘ror Like Lewis Carol's Ale, we ind ourselves suenly in aplace Where customary lope no Tonge applies. Space and me ake ots Thy new meanings Language conounds us People—andideas—curry ‘Shoe We are ured a very or. In such ways the play worl is 8 nt of possemene Like Alc, we are drawn in deeper and deep, at Sk momen leaming something curious about the universe andabout ores. Play and the Modern Social Sciences ie the portions of contemporary society the academe wordiscom- povtmentalized Consistent withthe division ofIabor i other fils Dnowtedge making hos bee apportioned to» growing nambero die ‘lines and sbiseplines each wih itsown rcly gunk etfs, Frmmitments andtadtons, Typ scolar are ned within hese \Tncplne and receive aeademic appointments inside thei boundanes, ‘Notaurpenngly aoa ett tend tobe cvluated inches tems Weel Solt” or subotanial scholarship is that which compsbends “aconentes othe ever changing discourse within thee Bik, With {Tecarofatuiesrodeced cach yarineven the narmowest of seine, ‘Ese ice weep up, Unde sch terms, siting hat aedemia hon be dominated by act of expertise that scholar abould know ‘ne and more about ls and es. “ot couse some topic re too broad or important tobe comaied ‘by any one dsipline. Subjects ke war, racism, poverty, eime, and 90 Feet pose challenges for every aapectof human expericose, Hiwever, ‘hk tle end to be approached a "nerdsciplinary” or "mlt-is- [Splnaey®ventoes. That ste diferent dimensions ofthe issue‘veston are commonly divided wp mong the specialists at hand. These ‘pellets ae expected to cneentate om apes ofthe general probles tht eflac the concerns and capabilities oftheir respective disciplines, “Throogh some undefined ieeenive proces, these derent stadies ae {nthered roger Knowledge marches forard Understood in this conext, the study of human pay as been dou by burdened. On she one hand no discipline has moved this topic | the center ofits theoretical or reserch tation or otherwise claimed ‘ts ownership. Pers ply ke those oer topes listed above i sim ply oobrod snd evanescent a concpt tobe contained by any one eld "Rowever would slo be dieu claim chat play has been asubeet, ‘of great aterdiscplnary Interest, Despite wiley to show —the ‘wide ranging plications of play for human experience, other raters ‘within the social seiences have heen fle generally wo be auch more sous or consequent nthepostthieteeoe af echolar mo fcus intenivelyom lay was teaced tothe lingeing eet of Protestantism, ‘rat least i morally repowing version, onthe academy. However, fur parpotedly ost nda worwhere cultural innovation, lt ‘rand pemonal experience have aken center stage—this etience i ‘ore dele ro wndertand "T argue that ties play have been much ss prominent within ‘he socal cence than stad of work, religion familie, inequality, "noon, not claim tat pay as een without ts scholarly po ponents, Certainly sme ofthe more notable observer i the social and behavioral seienes [eg Eason, 195) Feud 1938 Pings, 196 Cl ‘eet, 1990 have emphasize che importance of playin human txperiene; and wihin the lst thirty years lay stadies has emerged as ‘matter for coordinated inteedisepinary interes. National an inter ‘atonal lay sts ssocations have Den founded vocacy onan avon have rile the vale of cereain Kinds of play playgrounds Snd toys for eld development and community ie. Nevertheless he faute development of play studies seems limited the deficiencies of ‘thesmulit iciglinay mode red within academi sa whale and by the Interests ofthe spelt who heretofore have gathered at the table Tn what i probably the mos important work on the nature of play ‘in secent eat, Sutton Sth (1997) has argued thatthe play stuis literature Can be ngaized interme of even major "setts" or ide ‘lols, each with town characterise way of approaching the sub ject. For example, cerain researchers have focused on phy a8 "Poe oe ae neative or oeeatonal asvity that promotes the personal [growth of payers. Other rescarchers, he argues, have focused on play* pone: emphasizing frm oscil comet confrontation tat may te lnckonal for soceey ts whole Sill other scholars ave ster Psy tan exploration of chance oat, aan occasion for seta boning 8 ‘fnarnative manipulation, aba special pater of personal expeticnee fr szlthod, anda a pater of foley and status inversion, Scholars ‘Beesing on ancient and traditional societies frequently hiblght the ‘Rete ofpwer cominunity iene, iol, and fate Stant of {Dc mederm weld tend to favor te eto of pooges, massa, tnd the sel ‘On the one hand, Sutton Smith celebrates this diversity of play teacach However, els exe ofthe extent o which pla stasies ‘elles the compertmetaization found nother rortns of sademic Iie Tht the pevaling dione play esearch mast be considered tales of ieslogies inthe sense that scholars sem taped within “heir own narow, bo stony defended, conceptions of lay. At inter Uscplinary confrencs, exe scolas listen politely enovgh othe ‘ewe ofoneseother and then etest icy tthe very paradigms fom “hich they bepan oe Sten Seah 203.62). In his view ay sta Texneciso tansend these mid ame erksby building model that Incorporate the wonder aetyand ambiguity of play. “Svton-Smit’sown approach othese matters as bent emasze theenent to which play teseacher resi chemseives to cain st {ing or tecnes of play~inclaing schools asinos, football elds, ‘elghborboods, athe mand of yung cre. Having situated chem elves in this fashion, these cholazs conduct tet tain wit a set ‘of preonccived notions, each the dened esas, and then proclaioe {he tu thi adings fora forme of play In tht context is The “Ansiguly of Plyiseetally a attempe bind togetbe thse seven ‘Spyroaches, to discover what common and different about them. For ‘hteon Sih hat comme shade he exten to whic all ay acti ties catia the vale x ext of ereaturs so hat hey may respond to everwidening sets of challenges. "Ti curenthouk asp opariipate inthis poe of thecal syohesisin diferent way Target pla stuheshes ben dominated yeh pespectives and concer of etn disciplines withinte socal 1M behavioral sciences These dnciplngs in my view ae elusation, poyehology folklore animal behavior studies, and ancropoor. Taken Copether, these viewpoint have shaped the contemporary wedestans- {gol ply. a wha follows, [donot dspute the continuing importance tf tese Reds but ater argue dat these wations ned tobe supple= {enol and integrated with ther appronches,Challenge to Play Staies —s or theirpat, educations] researchers have emphasized the ole of ‘lay in the lives of young children ce Spensliey, 1974 Sith, 2986) ‘Klugman and Srllanly, 199 Chistie,r09) In edbeatonl research, play aetivtes re sen typically as oppertanities to enrich regimens of School or home: Organized informally by small goupsor unde the ui nee of a pten/cather play is understood to have numero postive fonction for aman development In that spin Lin and Reifel 1999, piste the following themes ay i remarkably important activity for chen. Not ony iit 2 ‘mean for expanding the lb to aor tol el peers, Payee porns the lds laborson® wher cen can Team ne shea practice od oes in reaction for sil ie in ‘occ ay le also a otal workshop, anaes for eying ut ae, oth Sone na with thr chili, Pla also a ae or expres ie ‘ye By sping che’ pay, we can anderstand what ey ake ndfel anu ehe wrigaound them Weslo area beer undead iteol all tesco! nr erlopaes by oodyce ply. In this content, plafl children are thought to aogie intellectual and ‘cll sl atmulte thei own ereativity and develop mastery ofthe sbpct work more quickly then ther ler laf peers. Fr such tons, play hs become cena cleent in the theory of stvelearlng that ‘aw pervade educational practice fr preschool though college. ’Alehouph education cholars have been perhaps he prinpal cha pions of Suton-Smith's “lay as progress” ideology thir viewpoints have been butuessed for the most pr, By ste fam coi and developmental peyctology ce Erikson 950, Vygotsky, 196 Piaget 196 Brunet, ally and Sse, 1976 Rabin, 1980) Scholes in these elds foreground the extent 10 which play isan expression ofthe developing physical, mental and emotional emails ofthe chil. ASSsting those patterns of development isa special kind of awareness, «recognition by players that they have entered an aucotalic 2oae where distinctive rules and purposes pertain. Wath the matter so defined parlpants sock ‘optimal levels of stulaton (Beene, 960, indulge ther desires to “amie the objet world (Paget, 1062) pursue biden coughs tnd behaviors (Fre 1938, or berate lst in alow” of momentary ‘eguirements[Cskscentmihaly, 990). So understood, playa sect becomes eqitalen tos series of personal challenges and responses, con ‘nections and dsconnectins suctesses nd files. BY such processes, people experience the mode of ersona commitment and expand fhetange of thelr sbilties,6 mar escoxsiornsy As practice by bth educational caches and psychoogss then, lay sts tended eo elle an ies, somewhat otic vision ‘ofthe human being Central o this vision is the belie that peoples ‘specklly young children -areaaturlly active and cris I only we ‘tleave then fom the dradgey of outine socal existence they will Tashion wondefl new wonds. Using her ewn senso of wha is intrin sell catiyingas a gid, chien wil pul themselves urward. New ‘challenges wil be aecepted, new sls developed In this context, play issetn at kindof reverberation between the emotional al the cgn tive moral apes of enperenc. Learning adeances quickly when it i Uooined ith adistintve range of emotions. in play studs, please {nd elite forms of excitement rethought to be more efiecious than ‘boredom and pin For such esson, ecatonal and pyehaogia sud itr lay have focnsed len om schoolyard bullies and more on thse imaginative, achieving children who wil Become with aly a tle prodding rom aults—teir beter selves. “The somewhat datker posses of childrens play have been elec in folklore sues ee Opie and ps, 1959, 196 Stton Sith, “Mechling Johacon, and MeMahon, 1995 Collecting and aang the longs, etre, jokes, ebymes, and games of pst and presnt,folklos- fat expoue the ving heritage of chilen'scltre. That ult, chey sect is no cre, plc realm. Instead he play world urges with restive, agressive, and even sexual scnatons, At times these song. Sndatres cem torefiet ee eller of adults wo mystiyandotherise ‘Simi children. But other exreaion are larly the work of hlden themselves, whose damboyan imagery to mark she hora of he ‘world In sich Settings, layers ae frequently saboteurs, defer ofall hatin ordinary and dear (Sutton Smith, 197, wp. 111-136 “This connection lay to indi development pps a well in statis ofocher type of mammal ee Fagen, 1981, Sith 98 Chick, Soot) In such accounts animal play s presented aa spec commit rentof the young Mayulaes is associated not only with hoe species that posses» relatively large neaconex but slio with these pints in the Me oyele when thisporton ofthe brain sowing thetstest. Like humans, animal plays Sem to ecogize quality of pretest or make believe intheiractivey and exhib mannerisms consistent with naman expressions af enjoyment. Why he plays matter ofsome conjectae Iowever,dhebradest interpretations sugges that pay allows eetares to develo «range fake fostering pester lebiity i the face of ‘hanging environmental conditions [Suton Smith ago, Inder words,Challenge Pay Studies xhanceintelleeual, phys and social skill fneladng the ability eo ‘hopes romote the survival of ath indiduals and species. Ts the eader wil have noted play studs tends to emphasize the postive ater than negate ancions of ply that sens, lay sore {hecretor han the destroyer of wold. Payers bil patems—inclu Ing sttepes of emotional management, pial bilities eos, [ltr copnitve amenorksthat may be seu hen ater i Somewhat erangelicly then, pla scholars quently tout the value of Chetrsujece mater a saiiing and sategrating enterprise. “This emphasison dhe functions of plays perpetuate nthe antho- poogial tition ace Lancy and Tindal 1976; Menge, 1986, Roop fatne, Joos, aad Hooper #994; Reel, toa Fort part physical Shthopology connects human ology andeavoeo related mamma- Tian ms ly symbolizes oa ep connection to other creatures at the Sametime tat iv utsate detineiel Baran ats Income a {Gralanthropology explores variation x seit and subeulral exe ‘hon ply More leary san other disciplines, anthropology hasbeen Sensitive to play ae mater or aals rather than chien and co the onneccons betwen ly an othercommuniyscvitie ke eigions Siu tary exersen court eves, nd spr For such re Sons, anthropological stad are explorations ofthe poli a wel as estate meanings flay. ‘The Promise of Sociology for Flay Studies eit the efforts of nthropags and folders to rodent exam ples and meanang of py | think is atc say that play continues fo be vlewed through ater narow lens. That lens as allowed some ‘spect play tae seen quite clearly while others appear eayin vague trstant ways, Attong the aspcts emphasized hasbeen the view of ply ‘Setelatvey fee or voluntary. Compare o other pus, ‘lay usually thought tobe atime when pope "take ovr” their own ‘Mia, deal democratic governancs,egltaraism, endl compe ‘ition, and cooperation preva Rigid roscrptve pater fom ther fnattational stings are omntonly avolded inverted, or mocked (see andclnan 1998 In ply, 0 arged, people can have the world thelr king ‘Closely connected to this viewpoine isthe premise that play fs ‘re inne ntslactons nd the perception of internal (ther than Cxceena contol of Beavior. Again, In contrast co other activi,play gives people a chance to shape the workd—aad to do so scouting for on ers andtiming In such ways, plays eens th tug ‘fpersonal notation over pabli eonstratIndvidualdspsion and {rgency abot intgitors nd sounding bands fora compliated chain otevene ‘ially the ive dscipline in general have tended o Se play fom _sconrewtivit functionalist perspective. As noted above, player ate Scemas bilder of natural and social lationship. What they build is thought to have conssuenes forthe ler eal of order tat are the next of ther ives Whether people are merely blowing of team or Csesping fom the unpessniner ff play x thought to beam ene {Goer and motiator of subsequent conduct We not only build ourselves {i play we conceive and administer soil azrangereats that ide the lives cher {i play sts can be seen a. party buoyed by the entusism and idealism oft aeaderne ers then the soctlogst maybe sen 38 the person who aries late and somehow manages to deflate the alfa. In ‘at fll foc om cerin apes of play that ave not en po ently displayed in the individuals nentaton that dominates the tlacpine, These asp, tmue, are fundamental themes of sciolog alanis. pla studies istorclly as emphasized the relative feedom and czltarinnism of players, then sociology dees us to pater of socal ‘ctangement and ierarchy [soe Granea, 1983; Hensicks, 991). The {elativelyintinse motives sagented by most stent py are coun {eredby the slo's emphasis om external incentives and cal fun ‘ons, The inva oe eleural focus of oher dele spaced by ‘he more cleaty ongainstional or gop focus ofthe sociologist. Even the boa view of the player ax person shifts toward a much narrower {nd more imperoaal ve of the prtispant aol pedormer fe Sim tel, 1950, Calimen,r9¢zb; Aycock, L058 ‘in gunea ers, sociology provides st of qualifeatans om the nota f playa exyeason, At one level this means that socilory {uesions the idee ha individu ae foernplay ea nor endear- ts to purse their own desires. Pay, wil be agued exhibits soci Structures only somewhat smal om those found othe pas of Me, These eractures ot only restrict people's personal feed but aso able them tosccommplish things they wosldbe unaleto doalne. The ‘Seialogieal cotton is the emphasis on the ways in waich social ‘Sracture ats eamework for aman endeavor To play vith thesChallenge to Pley Studios 9 {sto enter realm of interennnection tha s much more complicated than te play finials with the material wold. “The insues having bon define in thie fasion, this bok wil show the partinence of scilogy to play sues. To move forwatd i this ‘way isnot to claim tha cuen orentatons ae somehow misguided or trong but rather ha other aspect of playful experience deserve ate ‘Hin. Alo shouldbe acknowledged quickly tht sociolosial cuoity itself isnot new to the fel Many scholar, ncuding some prominent tecilopints, have analyzed the socal context ofboth Youthful and adult ay oe, Paget, 96 Ekson, 1950, Denzin, 1977 Fine, 983) and Inany discipline ride themselves on thet seat oscil mater. Socal poyehology focuses on relationships between the personal snd ocial anthropology comments extensively on socio alter suey ad ‘Sthcatonal scholars are experts dexerbng te varie socal sytem Sfptorrowed and shel All his otwishetanding cold are hat ‘the scilogel perspective sel rely is presented in a systematic or ‘Specific wy in the play dies erature Bvenless prominent, would lam, bave Seen angumens shaped by socilogy's eat theorist and tel seapeeive tadions ‘Mivocae etn to thee clas theorists in part Beene they frame sociological tues in very powerfal and compelling way. As is tien si contemporary schlas sometimes spend ther entire carers ‘nly comet places inhabited Long ago bythe classic thinks. How. tre the gents of thes carly writers also derives rom te sore ot {helt vision, That yee clase thinkers were lens contained by the ‘eademic boundaries that we now recagaze. Commenting ono other ‘wise organising plosoplcal historia, anthropological, and psycho Tbgical matters was nota that point asin fm that road way the, these thinkers ep so understand pay nots asoltary phenomenon but as imelement within expressive ifemore generally. Bren more profoundly, ‘hey make ur confront he place of pay within he parang of human relationship. Hutzinga’s Challenge to Play Stadies Inany seolaly inquiry one mast find point of entry set of ental ‘gustan to ask and answer. For the sociologist, those questions were ‘Bhted most pound and profoundly by « Dutch histori, Joban Huz- Ings during the ate ros0e Huising' 195s] Home Iadens:A Study of the Pay lement a Cllrs, by every standard cuons work, Wi‘en bya specialist n European cultural history andthe socal ie ofthe “Mile Ages, Halzngas oak ses an historia counting thi pth ceingof information fom ll umes and places eo suppxt an imapative ‘hess The thesis isha play ~undentaodin dtineive way—has been ‘central clement inthe developmen of soities Howerer in ings ‘iw, the once prominent position of play bas been exeded dramatically bythe economic and politcal feces ofthe moder age Huling fist defies play and then tert to show bow tact fay was snttationalize in such appeet of aly social ie at guage, ‘ames law, wa, philosophy, poetry, mythopoess and a In his Wew, the previous centuries of word history wete marked by soci Raed ‘ceasions in which people competed with one another pblily Sach ‘igh spite snd symbol charged wrangling by prominent nv als was the way which significan ides were ted ou, fated, and ‘efor: In Huizinga’ judgment history ls nt only he Sccounting of ‘echncogeal progres or political and economic movements bls the shay ofclarl interchange and development, Ths tenn court, ours lw debuting and scientifi socetes, song dels, parament, podatch festa, and pllosopicl bastering find thei places a en ells of social change. ForFuzings plays not tobe sought within some ‘arate istittion of society Ratheritisa distinctive form afrltion ‘ship tha stands at the center of public imagination and cand. Having deine is tess so boy Hatsngs wae similarly ecm sea with his choice of supporting evidence. Ediographiedescieions, es in phology, histories of ar soesloielsecounts of ee aca Structure of eaty societies, hilsopical observations, and woks a it ‘rare areal eat into the fa. Moreover Hazing colors his amuments with nbesoil writings thas as much rt socal sense. Time ‘nd aga the readers stunned by she authors gut of nigh and by the depeh of his knowledge For such eons, many commenttrs (sce oa 1972, Ehrman, 196 Lev, 197% Suttow Smith 19p7]Bave seen Home Lunt a6 one of the mon dainalyconccved andere works Inthe history ofthe socal seiencs, » compeling depiction ofthe very oure of cvizaton. However, ethers (ee Gel 1963; Dunc, x98 Grune, ros Neel, 198 have wen the ook at sometimes vague end oveblows, sleeve commentary that ignores the gtr apects of ntiee centurion pm view, Homo Ladensvemains, ter more han sey year, the atest restment of the sci cltural implications of play Ti staeus ‘Sduemortothenotliey oft reach thantaits asp, Huang forth inhi pening ages avew of play that aus many of the eves thatchallenge Play Seaties ar moder scholars il strug to underzand, Likewise, his conuovesial ‘hese about che shifting satus of playin urna history isa profound ommertaryon th character of soley sell Inthe ellowing, will {fone the challenge that is work ates fr modern scilogy. Huizinga’s Definition of Play Surely the most well nwa portion of lomo Jide isthe encepton ‘fay developed inthe opening chapter Like many other scholars, Hu inga wished comprehend the mare of human capability, pariultiy tsitis expressed inthe development of sca nd eulturl ors. ther ‘sites, e notes in hi freword, have emphasized such themes as rea oning or clanking iinesely aman walt However, Huzing, Ino wrote his bok inthe shadow ofthe Nasi acendany in Europe, oa {hhc te doube he vires ftahed acon Simo he una abit Tomake and se oasis perhapenoe dunce; other animals rnsform the material word for thee purposes aswell. Alongside home sapiens nd homo faber then, Huizinga popors# thd theme. Humans have ‘ipecally develope capacities play, that, tool the worl lightly “Snvcreatvly Ourepeie it sem, can step back om the rim neces ‘tis of fe. In our minds, we can see new possiblities and ogee plot ‘seommon ute In Huizinga view, the capacity of human beings co play is prior sat iit precedes the development of socery rculuze To support {his view, he notes the role of playin the ives of various animal pe ‘es. Indeed he contends [955 p witha eran overstatement, that ‘Smal play jst ike men” Alboagh he denies anima the level of ‘atonal fund in aman, he anges tht tei plays minded" Said “ferent, play san ocasion when creates ranscend th immediate ‘ead fe and impart instead a spbelic or relational significance to their actions Three always something “at ply" some shared object ‘x puttern of eonncton that frames the bchavir of the prtipants. He pins out hat animal tides an pychology ypc explain ‘layin terms of is various “fnesions” Thos, individuals are sid to [ly because they ave ditven to dicharge excess energy, sts mite: tive instinets, train the young, exercise self estsny, develop patterns 1 dominance and sofort, Fo Huizinga, such consequences are more the results of ay than reason fort existence In is view, play needs fo so of ulterior motives Rather play i deven by sneer, phenome ‘ological satisfactions. in ehientensy, tis absopson his power of Iadening ies the erence, the primordial quality of play” Ip. 3hia sense, play is an aesthetic event, atime when experience is gathered an evaluate in terns ffx emotional resonance. Fay i ‘marked typically by mint, fa, and tension, For soc easons play must Inotbe understood a demonstration of human cational, acre ‘luo th eects of thought and action However, a be(. | famoushy buts i “play only becomes posable thinkable and undereanble whe ‘infuxof mind beaks dawn the absolute determinism ofthe cosmos” ‘Tothac degre play i about the expressive capcites of the mind about the deseo eretars to make thee mark upon the word and beeld the lets ofthat acti. ‘ecm inthis light plflnes is #dtinative stance thet humans take before the wold Trina nly hat We aesle wo psy bat so that ‘wee ale o know whe we ae playing Furthermore, we ae aware ‘hac there ate diferences between play and other mode of wating. For aisng (play oa spect form of activity,” a “well-deined qul- Sty of acto which diferen fom ordinary ie” Purcermere, psy is otreducble to othe forms of experience. However itis curiouslycon- ‘ested tosuch matters laugh comedy, fly, myth, eal and even [esy,Hoisngssagles wid ome of chese distinctions thoughout isbook Early inthe ex though, he forsake chat eaneand stead pto- lucas his famous lstagef the “cle characteristics” of play For uzings play not par of the “natural proces" the patering of scion and rescon that charsctezesso mucho xno asta {somthing added to or spread over ie n that sense player ae sble to pase the customary chu of events consciousness becomes relies: ive. Although does seem trae that people and animals ae “even” to ‘ly there I loa seas in which play opposes determinism tn ply, ‘weateable so choose cusses f scion and ajut those courses based ‘nts interoal sutsacions we ceive Pay, ta nat caeeatal frm, {nota aba dy PLAY 15 NOT ORDINARY OR REAL LIFE te play, people ae aware tat they redoing something temporary and Ailerent Even for child, play has a stong “only pretending” gal iy. To play iso casts kind of ell ver the moment, suspend rou {ine responses and epecursions, However, players are ko aware ‘hat thin ney fasboned world may well be deemed tava reams ‘ory by estomary senda To play deeply i to consi oes oachallenge to Play Seudles 13 somewhat anificial ftinal version of the world. As Huisngs (6) ‘ote sometimes ths commitment takes the frm of entrancement or ‘ator, and pay Becomes inverted with the deepest levels of pyeho Tog seriwsness. “This dirtincton beween play ander stems of interactions aso mame in the snerestedness of ply. Hee Huizingais thinking tthe eltive absence of material consequence. In his view, pay isn {nterlde.e does nt soc satis ont ned for fod, shelter, ental Crpesion, and soon. Rather, it develops av a kindof personal and eu fa sdornmen,« commentary on of realfrmation ef one's postion {nthe word For Haiziga io play inhabits 2 "phere superar tothe ‘trict bologial process of mutton reproduction, nd sf reserva tion." play, we acend go new levels that express the fll mensions ‘of ourbumaniy. PLAY 1S SECLUDED AND LIMITED, ‘Our experience ofthe word wrapped in space and ime. To enter the playground is to adope new understandings of these eas. As Hisngs Fp slexplains play "eantains es own course and meanings.” Inlay, te Aesand-and clock time-of the ouside word typically atest aie. Ply state with new notions af pace and pater and contines ntl Ieveathes ite own typeof conclson- However, Huiinga emphasizes, 1 aiplays a cris tension between the momentary and the ete hal Once played the lay event assumes aking of historical taus that an be referred ater Furthermore, many types of play ae stoctared by rales that allow the expeience to be repeted, wath nearly endless ‘aration. Thus, to play a fae ist rela suddenly experiences one Is d before or een nore profoundly, eo erace ee tps of anyone ‘who has ever played he ame Simla la smh by ne eonventions regarding physi space Boundary ins a established objects within those boudates ake on ‘ew meanings, A ing (outst, "The arena the card able, che magic, the temple the tage the scree, the eas our, he court ck ste ec alate in form and fetonpayrounds,, forbidden spot, ‘atl hedged ound, within which spel alex bean,” Toehis dere, the playound esembesthe “onscerated pot occa 0 ital. PLAY CREATES ORDER, 15 ORDER Ino» confused an complicated word play bins temprary sr of ‘esetson or Hing, lays expecially oer making activity. Thats,ficult or challenges are fen afi) crestedand shen esoved. Play features an alterncon betweea tension and complesa, between ‘opposition and union. For such reasons the expcince ply com: ‘monly an aesthetic oe, an encounter with shythm and harmony. stay “successful play must be tense ao it mt ave fe rls ules ze che famewok hat allows pope to focus pel to epee their activity, and eo communicate with one nother inj play. Aboot ‘these rules, Hutzinga p10 staes, cher ean be no dpe Fort claim theruls faulty ar dealos ito bea "epiapore” one wae challenges ‘the very legacy of the aceiviy- Ben the “chest,” someone wh pe tends wo observe che rule eles threatening. By contra, spispots ‘ob play ofits qual of sion. The ete asi becomer har PLAY SURROUNDS ITSELF WITH SECRECY Par of the charm of play sche shared awareness that artcpant have ‘sepaated demselves voluntarily from the normal course events. T> ly together isco eommiteo one anther, tare that these moments Spent together im what ae often the sles of endeavors) are valuable, ‘Moreover, o play togeteris to make clear hat oer tet included, “Those outsiders and theirconcemsate of no perience here Thus, Hl ‘nga’ ial characteristic of pay i this quality af cree, the fc that. Some are in the know and other arenot. To reinforce thi diction, players lovew adorn themselves withelsbort costumes, cuous equi ment and arcane expressions By desing upin hi way payers bosom ‘other beings, people who have lee behind their routine ates, ulaingr's onecption of play deserves teen, Beer than pe ‘hap any other author Hoinnga describes the carious ntersay bee conde and disorder tha exist in play. Moreover he states well the scape of his subject. Ply is nor simply an acuity of humans but of numals a well Play is both mental sod etotionl, physi! and sym bole an be sliary entree bu i perhaps more interestingly svinteratve endeavor Te eouches adults as dep as eilten ‘More sigaiican stil i Huang’ claim dat play iro some s- lated occasion but aher aerial element ef cea fenctoning ay ful activities may be stactred nto the conduct of public instttions foxthey may simply ero, herby stoping and tassoring ordinary afin that regal ply is aten connected to ordinary eae in ‘as more sable forms, fequent expresses sels “scons forsome- “thing” of social alo, alternate "representation ol something (p13) These two versions of lay ae ee ones that izing pursues his rentmene of the changing ele of payin eleCCaltengeto Play Seadies a5, Play and Culture using’ contovesial thei is that play and culture were once con: fccted'n an ntmate, almost living Way indeed, ealy forms of play tree sources and contbutrs ocular conscouenen and ret, However flay once had an ongntive stro wih epect ocala, row that relsionnhip ha bea reversed. Cute has captured and ma. ‘alae play an in the proces, stripped it ofits possiblities, Inherent in sich claim is the proposition that society self has ‘hanged rough the years Far Huizinga the historian the task was also toindcae some ofthe changes in soil structure that have ocurred in| the uanston to themedem world Arguably, play once occupied social ‘aces in radttonal and ache socltes that eter have Been ered tadealy oro longecerist Ths, o mourn the deine of play, as Hutz {bps dew, a mum he enn of howe wocten ado, es ing he wting of his great elegy to those earlier days The Waning of the Mile Aes, tha izing 1954p. 104s eeame aware of che found relationship between py and cultaze “Although Huizinga docs nt satematcll describe the cransiorma ‘ion tothe moder world sme of those changes can be peed gether ln roughly the following way. Ear societies were male and more Tea andanchoredby pattems of ol communication. They Were, tu8e modern secioloial parlance lest “diferente.” That I the diler- nt instiulonl spheres evoomy, plies, eeation,relin, larly, tte Jadot yet been eparatedcach with its distinctive organizations, Dertonnel, and coder of conducts they srenow Ava consequence, he felevane socal bodls ofthe mes smilies clans, tbe, wilage com ‘rites, ete) were expected vo handle most ofthe persoasl and social ‘equirements oftheir members. "Tathesame dares cure was not et ilereniated. Musi dance, lulose a apd wligiousliefand practice were not separnte spheres Knowle wis gathered nthe percn or group and often gordo in 3 jealous seretie fashion, A Hsing chapter | emphases in dose Dre-Sotraic days, euition was something ofa medicine shove led ‘with answerlese poste, rhetreal dapay,pesonalatacks, and ev ‘ve bombast. Under such eiraumstance, che gal of dhe mystagorue ‘war more to defeat his ial and thereby supment his own status than {opromoee general enlightenment urdhrmoe the relationship ofthe parson the group ws different from au erent conceptions, Indvidalism ass concept wat not well, developed: Rather people were members of sal bodies ehat at onlypreceded thems in ae but also defined most aspects of tek entity. [hn the leader of those groups spoke for ther members wih con ence pethaps ost to the modern word. Because ofthe ugh amncetion ‘between people andthe groups that dened them, belies abou hon, shame, and day wet fl profoundly. ‘Sienifiany, because wating had ot yet tapped and chery ren. led aetret} he wel soil hads iran Interactive quality that {Stnissing inte contersporry ea. Without the props and repositories tt waten cult people were toa rete eget chan now the vessels tf eltue For such reson, seit continty depended on personal proclamations er public enactment of Dele and exston. “Although the oma view of adionlscietsisthat gly angeles rid anchored sn myth and tual, Huizinga tended to see post ueieties as much more contentious and dynamic. Althogh mythic Teme were used ta enforces wider sense of social soldat, there ws, ints view spectacular svalry between subgioups and choi espe: tive champions. Thus, pblic ceremonies were occasions whe groups oajockey or status exchange prestige lden gods or athens show oi “To summarice, social if in eae times was somewhat esate lated. The publican private dimension of existence were nt fily ‘Seperated peuple wete expected to expres themselves pli and: {dbo with te fall measure of thelr Being Likewie, ee elect, ‘moray and aentbetie apets fealeae wee not yer parsed rt distinct ‘Spheres each wth town standards. Public expression volta these ‘ements atone "common sense” was fashioned eolleciay hough ‘nging verbal tacks, song, stores, poems ser ranting ad physical tispay tm hat sense, wisdom traditions wer, t some level collective ‘eater. And perhaps most roundly, the contemplative dnenson of lie wasn isolated trom the word of acton. Tbe sure chai ‘ies were naked by deep mysteries and ecru thee no pee that these could not be Bgured out in a staightforwar,lgical way. ‘Rather, knowlege had to be deduced or discovered by combinations of Ick, ingenuity, personal courage, and ticker crete at he holders ihe eres To live wisely and well ne ad 9 cour the lavoro he nal hee ways Holsings ae eaierciviizatiosasbing somehow younger and ln sce. For spar, the spernaturl cou be seen as ‘Secally qu. Spins and gods might have uncles, shifting relation Ships to one another, an het "personaliis” could be as tempestuous nd unpreiciable athe weather Ths ordinary people were everChallenge to Ply Stodies 17 ‘he proces of developing and repairing thei lationships with spt tal fore. that gh hey function of pbli events was she Dull Ingo ridges eewen the seperatral realm and che world o ordinary aia, ‘As Huleings (1955. emphases then, play was orginally pare ofa boner “play festival ite complex," mistore of institutionalize public evens that served range of purposes fn tha igh, the display (viene representative aspects ofthe event the symbolic presentations inde presentations pial associated with ual”) mingled wi the ‘experience erented culties though tbe ese to play." Likewise, ‘he serious purposes chaser of rl might coexist wich the more near fnctfl rendering typical of ply Forsuch reasons, tal and Playa at simes almost equivalents for Hsizinga. Are 8) pe "rhe situal acta all ue foal and essential characteristics lay which we smumerated shove, partials into fa i anepots dhe Dartciguns to anoher world This ens of ital a pay was we Served recognized by Plato a a ive fac” aid ferent, tol in Cariertimes was no sample enactment of suc form. Rather twas Saginatie reaton of ode through the energy and inspiration of the parspant. People “payed oUt” symbolic evens so tht these might ‘lfect changes in cosmic order in hat ens, archale play understood by Hulzings to be a source of ital poyhic commitments and nth sass preceded and to some extent, contlled) cultural production. Furthermore, the pay spe an soughshod over the Boundaes of the serious As be expin [p19 In play, we may move below dhe evel tf the serious as the hl dot Dut we an aso move above tin the realm ofthe eautfl andthe sacred.” ia thee way lay Wasa potest ‘gains the ordinary and ce literal, an attempt to place human unde. ‘anding and expstenceins new key. ‘Such ideas abou he ees of play on history ae pushed forward sn Hulzing'sehapreron ‘lay and eontet a civil fanexons.” 1a is view, the pay of ear societies was frequently aiclated in wo ble forms: cred perormances and festa contests, I the former Was ‘Specialy ngorantinenhorengor hers "making eal colecve ‘eas, heater was she stain for dynamic interchanges cht played out cultural possibilities pblie wa. The histones of ese comtesi>—in| Such domains slaw, poetry, philosophy, war, and so on-—comprise the Ping subject matter ofthe book. "snot meal tr review here the vsious eauple and clams of, ‘thos individual chapters ee instead Henrik, 2003) However, in ge ral Huizinga’ argument i that play isa foundation forthe contest.[Although he does ot wish to equate play with contests that pursue ‘atrial ends he does acknowledge he payal aspects of eompetiions that pusue more symbole or sats-ented outcomes. Ase |. 50) pote, competion end tobe fer something och ax apie orenk i ‘Something ch el ofl) pd with something chaste bodily sength or mental strategy In such ways, play isconnected owaly to he vad sls sd themes of ose ‘Although his ison ofthe contest seems to parallel the “amateur” ‘deal in sport hat as popular during hie ime, be doesnot nomporate that view a ls emtiey. For example, in conrast to the erp 0m [ralemany contol an airplay nthe amour esl, Huizinga aceptl ‘heating and echery aepiimate elements nthe ants oh mythic nd eal ofcarlir times. Likes, Huizinga amit gamba o bean {nveesting combination of play ad seriousness. Moreover, the contests tf teditonal societies were often undestod to be profound meetings between human activity and fate The outcomes ofthe mos carefully ‘eure apd ealurally central games might be interpreted athe will ok "the gds. To play informally ore and competitively socesil ways ‘wast me the fate of he worl uing emphatic about several key points. fish play civics may ates the mot subline and morally serious purposes. ‘That i ldhough play may be departure rom ondinary li ehis does ‘ot inean that it must be preocupied ony with eval mats Like frst, Hulzings gree with bis mentor and val) Buran bout {Be lace ofthe agon or social contest a isoy. Whereas rca has desgnsted the sist century min Greece asthe Key amomen in the development ofa cular of games, Hung argues thatcontests of ‘his sor have Been cca in ll types of societies over many entanis, Pethops most teal is Hulingr' emphasis ha play isnot caine ‘contest of physi strength and sil As noted above, Slom> Ldn is ‘Tfookcanove ang games, polatch fia ls by oneal ir Sonica dislestis, competion in enoay manners, hung bars, ‘ompestive artisans snd sofort. Indeed ts this emptais onthe Symbol impietons of play of many types that makes the book remarkable In genera the existence othe “play-festivalte” complex easier time made posible a host of social and cultural functions play. As Theve agueleleewhere Henricks, 20] pay was a devis that both ratio! existing seil divisions and promoted the formation of ew ‘oupings entered onthe playground. Furthermore, psy permitted the epoition of socal entity in pbli way. That winning or losingChallengeto Pay Swadies 19 snlghe reflect on social status more oneal. More oad, play wasn incetstive activity All contestant aswell as judges and spectators] ‘would be united unde the common terms ofthe event ay events lo commonly ancaned ab epost of ple mem ony, Gres contests were remembered and became baselines psn which sore recent atity was udged, Likewise playfl contests were ways identifying persisting cultural oppositions Contestant feguenty ea ‘id forward the ales and belief of her apensering immune The defeat of wate, aris, orpilospher cold mean the humiition of hisidens au well inally contests were ways of demonstrating evant Calta skis and commitments, To watch these matters played out twas to contemplate the posits of ving For uisngs, playin hese ‘tings was kind of ple let in which people eed to advance their own personal, seal, and euler positions. Tn there erm, Hussings sxpes, he sles entries of Foropean story were “played” in ways ot known tous now. AC tes his com ritment this theme ads to enthusstc overstatement. THs. 19) "Medieval le was bmi of pay the joyous and unbuttoned play of ‘he peopl.” shortly therester p18, he poriays “the whole mental sarttude ofthe Renaissance” atone of play. The sventeeth centr, Iboweves angry and dou, is interpreted nis visions a peso ofa tocratie delight. II his onl prepares the way forthe reat and ulmi ‘ating century of pay, the cghtecath, when the entre zeigt of the times is declared o have soc qualities “The great changeover occurred with the Industal Revolution. The oming ofthe word of ators, capitalism, and eies—with hee un amentlly materialist sensibilities and bourgeois values marked 3 Aideren ated toward fe Acsthete elings srenderd to ceonomic Asi" work and produces became the dea and then the idl ofthe ge". 193) Society -at vey poin—oeasmore steel organized. Rule By panei replaced rule by personality. Gone now were those more shullent days when ponees gambled recklessly withthe fate of the teritols, when conte and arf were sblime, when prominent people preened and posed and confounded osers with thet scons In those bygone days, leiare wat les an escape from work than «chat tered opportunity for public expression. ln privileged moments, life was held dle ata distance and calivted as a work fat Now, i the industrial age, we have entered peo of “woitacansm, prosaic Ufenoy, and ths bourgess ideal of wc welfare ip. 191199) "Por tentoas seriousness pervades every spect of if people have becameow activites ust chese change eter than porting events In arcaie societies, pyieal contents might be ethelia mythPy cs entred the fy a many diferent levels thems 8 epee fetatives oftheir ups and communities, and at actor in events of Inotenialy)cosmie sgideance. Religious risa, artistic expression, Sd sheer festivity sutounded the seeal competion Sporting cm peation wereclebations ofthe body in mation exhibitions in gice, ‘Gang an Sorsnude People parcpaed ax children someines do ow, 1 exlorethe boundaries of the physical weld "Now, in Hulzing's ie, sports have become compartmentalized and tg. Ofiialdor—with ts leagues, schedules, waning repens Sponsring organizations, and rlebooks predominates Sporting men an women aspire to whet Huzings terms atone point 199 "stale txcllence”,quanctaively based records and record-ecping become Key clement ofthe ports experience Purtenmor, ke oer modern activities, spore has become overrun by economic considerations the sces of sporting spectacles udged bythe eterion of pratt. For such reasons the cul ofthe profesional oerbel materi, Inded thos who play games for easons af ejoymentorpercnal desl: ‘pment now fel chemselves infer othe experts ‘izing argues that mode spo, despite seat lel promi ence has n eelaze eesting”capcly. Although based on play, pote ‘as vstilfened ino seriousness” [. 199) Although showcased in Yast Staiums and arenas and followed with natal interest ttough aio broadcasts and newspapers spor seems curiously slate fam the deep «sthuman concems.nthat ease, as Huizinga note, 20 long gui fesas ithe ply or seousnes nrtea, the sporting wold hat devel oped as an essentially profane diversion, Rudd by the tetneal snd ‘conomi egeirements ofits sponsors, Huizinga and Hie Critics ‘ew reads today wil al to note chat Hsing’ writing seems guided 1 se of values no longer fashionable in the modera world. As wev- ral commentator have emphasized [se Duncan 988, anes 198), ‘Napel 198), Hung ws pra eothe fundamentally asin, uy entered societies of he part Insch «wor the fact of serach oll Ihowever those rankings might be apportioned to contending groups was accepted ss natural or God-given state of aft, Atthe uppermost ‘eathes of thathierarchy were thon families who driver postions from the ownership of land. And the ade of tone families were males(Challenge to Pay Smdiss a Duringthe Middle Ages, such ued men might claim thet positions by nary service to the hing. At some pose that wary stats sed tatomere get. Mutzng's theory flay is hase, forthe mos part, om the exploits ofthese "Tssure cass” men. Ofcoure, Huiing' seneblites can be Sted within an ois view soil order hat eches back Plato andbeyond. By such account, society needs is eae of talented, privileged people. Such individuals ost have the time resources, and icedom to explore and otherwise omporethemseives graciously within the wodld. They mst have bart In older medieval sens of special privileges ranted to some bt not tm othe however, hey mus elbo expres liberal. That they mast teongrisepublly cir nocial prominence nd extend her essings to ‘hose tehalden wo them. These leader of soiety ae also forthe most part, fred from the curse of work Inded thei eponsblites are to lead a cslarally sophisticated fe, maintain salubvious conse with ‘heurpeers and more genenly define the syle oftheir ae ‘Although Hulzngs sought examples fr his theory roma very wide range of mes and place, think ts fas tay that he focused on dhe lay feof highly plced individuals ad groups. eis the agonistic com Peon ofthese well-placed peers—eaher than cros-class vary othe Eompeditions of less advantaged roups—that forms the subject matter Dt his Hook, The competitively stractared arguments, teasing, chica ery, boasting aid material display ofthese prominent groups were the swaps in which culture the pmbolcfamework or society —hecane "cuted. Te sundaes of ther ble palises ote wider respon: "ities felis in eaeralo dhose less fortunate snot examined Is noah that eleare canbe fashioned bs work fa, that fe at some level ean be danced. For his part, Huizinga acknowledged these aristocratic sympathies. orn in 1873 10s Dates Menponte amily, Johan was a Geum Youth ‘who enjoyed Tong walks through the eountysie (ree Coie, 1964) [Although his aly members were prominent medial doctors he was Aeepy ambivalent about what he considered his rural plebeian rots. By his own account he fantasized abou the gilded apes fee past. More ove, is Mennonite oot nourished a somewhat disapproving stitude toward the word of every alls. The gy, boutfeot-dominated ‘word of polities snd economics seemed wo him » stepping backwaeds ‘om the beatiful model ofthe par. ‘During his university days, he was much influenced by # oun of sents who had beome known a th Tahugesitrally “men ofthe ‘hte Tat cee worked aed eo ntrodece moder ants ike Vasa ‘Gogh to the Dutch public and in gene tempted to ie che level of Utes and arise sopitcation within the universities or his at uzinga was ascnatedby what he understood tobe acral apecach| te history, an exploration of ential ies, asi forms, soil oes ‘nd religioas patterns that defined the spin ofan ape. Conspicuowsly thsene rom that clea max were henson led terial relaions| forusl othe Marist and wala ‘ising’ path through the univziey world was intuenced by the ola patimonia pattern swell Not unlike many othe academics of fis me social connections were erica to hie receiving a university {hae at Groninge, when he was histy two, and at Laden ten Year> later Ultimately he became Rector at Leiden, where his tes nce ‘toring the young Pines Jlana tn suck ayo beveled his deam tf lnhabiting the highese echelons of teaiion siden word ‘Ofcourse, none of ene xo deny his tremeadous leat, his ability to cee portale of every ae that reat much a as history. But his Seeing peference forthe past didnot gp unnoticed by hs coatempo- fry cities (ee Gey, 1963, Ae Hollands most prominent seadene, Ihe should ave bee, they argued, more outspoken ateut the coming ‘hts in Europe When he did speak is axgumens seemed tbe ‘wholeaeindictments ofthe voulles materialism of heap ater than ‘uel evaluations of realist politieal options. At any ate, he didnot Strive the wat Arzested with other prominent Dut aademics in 1, he was placed ina honage camp, became, and did in February ofi94s ‘The Path Ahead Hoc Ludns is a emarkable book. More daringly than others, Hulz- ing ernie he portance ol pay fr aalt ne reveled some tts implestions for sotety aba whole. Like other elses the book "eciely conquers new eos for aeademie dscoue and connects ‘hve dscns fo what is hundatnental shot personal experience This having been scknowledged se would be had to claim ‘st Huizing's ‘wor entiely satisfactory in ts concepaalisatin, #8 methods of Snir, Fits conclusions ‘Axwell rendered 2 Haisng’s depiction of play maybe, perhaps slr tom an atempe to embrace oo many apes o expressive fe ‘salto expla to many things with one concep: Those with de ds Positions wil not care forthe ays which Halainga posts the virtual ‘entity of play with such mates arial, games, contests, oF oberCGatenge to Play Studios a3 foxms of festive expression. Troubling ao is the wy in which e ees lay bth a nderitelfand asthe creation of order, ot ormfuess and he dynamic interplay win and between these forms. ay theories tre generally have enchant for emphasising the radi, love squads of theirsujec matter. Howeve as Calls 961 age some Teengntion ofthe diferencee between the mare rigidly organized and ‘he more spontaneous, psychologically seneated parts of exression Seems imporant Moreover, Hulzing’s idealist seniblies prevented infor adévessing ether the materi ase of ply orits matt conse- qrnos.Inpenerl ia dearptions of play re wonder eoemmentares tthe ways in wich reality canbe imagined in sci stings through Slalcticl exchanges beeweun rial actor, however, dere tle to remind wscfthe arta huddingsweting sometimes beatles al {cs of physical pay Pally, shou be noted chat Huizinga bimset ‘enc rlaialy nvnatd a seltary lay,which nvr eok oneibutesebtancaly to cultural maiatenance or production. "Empirically ented readers wil ot be satisfied withthe way in which Huizinga presents ls man examples ol play Hisargumeats reveal {he eremendoas eration ofthe author, but the upporing evidence x rarely presented in any concrete, detailed way: Nor are counter exam: ples eovided. Instead the reader is carted along in a sore of ealtural ‘eon, the mysteries of the ceneures reese in couple hundred pages Although Huizinga himeclt was ery eical of Speglers broad resh lueatments of the couse of celzation, Homo Ladans generalizes to (tick op well Indeed, somuch of hitory i gathered pan prevented Ihre and hee tha he erica eader ie hard pened neta eres ‘comprehend flly whats presented. is thesis—that play has een generative activity inte course of heory about the organization and sigcance of aman expesion in cei, That [pal can be addese oly in modest ways here “Avis sometimes ated, the ends of project are usually found in heir beginnings Estill, this ook argues that sociological perspe=: tives re aluble forthe sy of play, and wil tts condusion, ty £0 Show thefts ofthat sprosch. The contbutions of other seademic fiociplines, however valuable, willbe given less empbass. Moreover, this book take so ts point of dearre ast of theoreti viewpoints ting fom the scl condition of modern, industrialised societies “Those concern shape the arguments that follow. To be su [have wed ocomplemene these approaches vith entiation from ter writers ‘Committed fo undersanding playin moe recent histori pesods, to ‘er types occ in comtexts mae by dileences las, ander beet, and age However, thse deeper levels of understand {hg ean be ataned only by 2 wider community of socal ens