Play of Individuals and Societies

Play has always had a special place in the world and for much of our literate history has been seen as capturing the true essence of the individual and the surrounding culture. All of the chapters in this book express the sentiment that we can see in play the embodiment of human beings as well as our societal cultures. This is evident in our aesthetic transcendent and everyday play experiences - in the literature we read, the theatre we attend, the games we play, the art we experience, and in the way our lives are organized by powerful others and societal license. And, as several chapters illuminate, play is the world we construct to express our opposition to the pluralistic and controlling world we live in - a way to express our individuality and create an interval, a transient haven. The chapters in this book encourage the reader about a reflective way of thinking about play that preserves, contemplates, and clarifies how play embodies our selves and our cultures.