Man, Play and Games

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Man, Play and Games*** () is the influential 1961 book by the French sociologist Roger Caillois (, 1958) on the sociology of play and games or, in Caillois' terms, sociology derived from play. Caillois interprets many social structures as elaborate forms of games and much behaviour as a form of play.

Summary ### Definition Caillois builds critically on the theories of Johan Huizinga, adding a more comprehensive review of play forms. Caillois disputes Huizinga's emphasis on competition in play. He also notes the considerable difficulty in defining play, concluding that play is best described by six core characteristics: * It is free, or not obligatory. * It is separate (from the routine of life), occupying its own time and space. * It is uncertain, so that the results of play cannot be pre-determined and so that the player's initiative is involved. * It is unproductive in that it creates no wealth and ends as it begins. * It is governed by rules that suspend ordinary laws and behaviours and that must be followed by players. * It involves make-believe that confirms for players the existence of imagined realities that may be set against 'real life'. Caillois focuses on the last two characteristics, rules and make-believe. According to Caillois, they "may be related" but are mutually exclusive: "Games are not ruled and make-believe. Rather, they are ruled or make-believe." Agon prioritizes skill, work, and professionalization. in the sense of altering perception by experiencing a strong emotion (panic, fear, ecstasy) the stronger the emotion is, the stronger the sense of excitement and fun becomes. E.g. bungee jumping or Caillois' example of children spinning in a circle until they become dizzy.