We all know what play is,or we think we do. It is ingrained in us from childhood, but coming up with a solid definition is not spright forward. The problem is that is is used in do many ways coming up with a all encompassing definition is close to imposable. The origins of the word are ‘Old English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’ (OED). From a cultural and perspective the book ‘Homo Ludens : A Study of play-element in culture‘ (Johan Huizinga,1935) discusses the importance of the play element of culture and society (It can be read online here). It has however come to be used in numerous ways:
Playing with, playing at, play someone for (a fool), at play, in play, put into play, bring/call into play, come into play, make a play for, not playing woth a full deck, play both ends against the middle, play something by ear, play by the rules, play one’s cards close to one’s chest, fair play, play fast and loose, play the field, play for time, play the game, play god, play havok with…. (Oxford Dictionaries)
And that’s just half way down the list. Many of these talk about some type of plan or scheme being played out (call into play, come into play, play the field) or the way it is played out, play both ends against the middle, play something by ear). There is a very strong relationship between play and games and these uses of the word play seem to refer to characteristics and ideas in gaming. The other group of uses of play refer to playful activities (both mental and physical), or in other words ludic activities. ‘Play the fool’ is an example of a ludic use of the word play and ‘come into play’ has gaming as its root, it is not necessarily ludic.
Roger Caillois (1913-78) Identifies 4 patterns of (ludic) play:
- Agon (competition) – chess -
- Alea (chance) – luck – snap – slot machine
- Mimicry (simulation) – role playing
- Ilinx (vertigo) – doing, movement – rolecoster
(For more information See The Challenge of Agon, The Rituals of Alea, The Imagination of Minicry and The Joy of LLnx)
Within this a continuum of Ludus to Paida.
- Ludus – structured play with rules and a winner/winners – chess
- Paida – unstructured play, anarchistic, messing around – word association, Mornington Crescent
(Further Reading The Complexities of Ludus).
It is not so much if a media product is ludic or not but how ludic it is as many forms of media that are not considered to be playful have a ludic element, even the news has its funnies and humor is often used to break tension in the most serious drama.
Caillois was concerned with creating a sociological model to define ludic activities and they tell us a lot about what play is. It is not done solely for acquisition of wealth of goods. Therefore activities that seem playful (playing second life) may not be so. It is the motivation for doing something that makes it playful, not the activity itself. Gold Farming in second Life may be in a play environment but if it is done solely for profit (18 hour days) it is not play.
Ludic is activities, or approaches to activities, that are not necessary (in terms of Maslow’s hierarchy or needs) for our physiological or safety needs but do help to fulfill the higher needs (love, esteem, self actualization and self transcendence).
