Play Reconsidered : Sociological Perspectives on Human Expression

Henricks, Thomas S.

ISBN 10: 0252073185 / ISBN 13: 9780252073182

Published by University of Illinois Press, 2006

Seller Inventory # 4236101-n

Synopsis:

Understanding the significance of adult play in the life of modern societies

Within the social sciences, few matters are as significant as the study of human play--or as neglected. In Play Reconsidered, rather than viewing play simply as a preoccupation of the young and a vehicle for skill development, Thomas S. Henricks argues that it’s a social and cultural phenomenon of adult life, enveloped by wider structures and processes of society. In that context, he argues that a truly sociological approach to play should begin with a consideration of the largely overlooked writings on play and play-related topics by some of the classic sociological thinkers of the twentieth century.

Henricks explores Karl Marx’s analysis of creativity in human labor, examines Emile Durkheim’s observations on the role of ritual and the formation of collective consciousness, extends Max Weber’s ideas about the process of rationalization to the realm of expressive culture and play, surveys Georg Simmel’s distinctive approach to sociology and sociability, and discusses Erving Goffman’s focus on human conduct as process and play as “encounter.” These and other discussions of the contributions of more recent sociologists are framed by an initial consideration of Johan Huizinga’s famous challenge to understand the nature and significance of play. In a closing synthesis, Henricks distinguishes play from other forms of human social expression, particularly ritual, communitas, and work.

About the Author:

Thomas S. Henricks is the Danieley Professor of Sociology at Elon University and the author of Disputed Pleasures: Sport and Society in Preindustrial England.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Play Reconsidered : Sociological ...
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Publication Date: 2006
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: New