Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture, Volume 911; Volume 1949An 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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Common terms and phrases
18th century aesthetic agon agonistic Alain de Lille ancient animal answer archaic culture Aristotle battle ceremonial characteristics of play Chinese civilization combat common competition concept connection contest dancing divine duel Dutch earnest element English Euthydemos expression fact feast festival forms of play function German Germanic languages Greek Gylfaginning hence holy honour human idea ideal instance judgement judicial duel justice King koani Langobards languages literary magic Mahābhārata means mediaeval mind modern myth Nāgasena nature noble Old Frisian Old Norse origin pantun performance personification philosophy plastic Plato play and seriousness play-character play-concept play-element play-factor play-forms play-function play-quality play-sphere play-spirit player playful poetic poetry potlatch primitive purely question religion religious riddle ritual Rococo Roman rules savage semantic sense serious significance Skáldskaparmál social society songs sophist sphere spirit sport theme thing tion tribe virtue Werner Jaeger whole winning wisdom word play παιδιά