Play Reconsidered: Sociological Perspectives on Human Expression

ISBN: 0252073185

Author: Henricks, Thomas S.

Condition: New

Understanding the significance of adult play in the life of modern societiesWithin 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 its 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 Marxs analysis of creativity in human labor, examines Emile Durkheims observations on the role of ritual and the formation of collective consciousness, extends Max Webers ideas about the process of rationalization to the realm of expressive culture and play, surveys Georg Simmels distinctive approach to sociology and sociability, and discusses Erving Goffmans 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 Huizingas 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.