Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in CultureAn essential reference for all game designers, this 1938 classic is “a fascinating account of ‘man the player’ and the contribution of play to civilization” (Harper’s). In this classic evaluation of play that has become a “must-read” for those in game design, Dutch philosopher Johan Huizinga defines play as the central activity in flourishing societies. Like civilization, play requires structure and participants willing to create within limits. Starting with Plato, Huizinga traces the contribution of Homo Ludens, or “man the player” through Medieval Times, the Renaissance, and into our modern civilization. Huizinga defines play against a rich theoretical background, using cross-cultural examples from the humanities, business, and politics. Homo Ludens defines play for generations to come. |
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18th century aesthetic agon agonistic allthe ancient andthe archaic culture areso Aristotle asthe atthe battle bythe called ceremonial characteristics Chinese civilization competition conception connection contest Cratylus dancing divine drumming-matches element English expression feast festival fromthe function German Germanic languages Greek Gylfaginning hence honour human idea ideal ideaof imagination important instance inthe inthis isan isthe itis judgement judicial duel justice koani Kouretes Langobards languages lawsuit Mahābhārata means mediaeval men’s mind modern myth Nāgasena nature noble ofall ofit ofplay ofthe ofthis one’s onthe origin performance personification philosophy Plato play-character play-concept play-element play-factor play-forms play-function play-quality play-sphere play-spirit playful poetic poetry potlatch primitive purely question riddle riddle-contest Rig-veda ritual Rococo Roman Romanticism sacred savage semantic sense significance Skáldskaparmál social society sophist sphere spirit sport thatthe theother thesame thewhole things tobe tothe tribe Väinämöinen Werner Jaeger whole winning withthe word