Toward An Integrated Theory of Play
This paper proposes a four-part schema for categorizing and analyzing meaningful acts with respect to their properties of consequentiality and stylization. Defined by these parameters, I suggest that we can analytically distinguish four distinct modes of meaning: play, game, work, and ritual. The sa...
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ftcdlib:qt94r1c6mn 2023-05-15T16:55:08+02:00 Toward An Integrated Theory of Play Ellerby, Benjamin Adam 58 2016-01-01 application/pdf http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/94r1c6mn en eng eScholarship, University of California http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/94r1c6mn qt94r1c6mn public Ellerby, Benjamin Adam. (2016). Toward An Integrated Theory of Play. UC San Diego: Anthropology. Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/94r1c6mn Social psychology Cognitive psychology Games Humor Play Ritual Work dissertation 2016 ftcdlib 2016-12-16T23:50:45Z This paper proposes a four-part schema for categorizing and analyzing meaningful acts with respect to their properties of consequentiality and stylization. Defined by these parameters, I suggest that we can analytically distinguish four distinct modes of meaning: play, game, work, and ritual. The salient attributes of each, but particularly the former two, are discussed, as well as the systemic relations of each to the other. Play is conceived primarily in terms of "going meta", a process by which humans exit the explicit systems of meaning in which they operate and open the terms of that system for problematization. Game, conversely, is defined by a reverse operation in which arbitrary constraints are treated as binding and absolute within a bounded sphere. I conclude with an application of this construct to ethnographic material provided by Jean Briggs studies of Inuit pedagogical practices. Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis inuit University of California: eScholarship Briggs ENVELOPE(-63.017,-63.017,-64.517,-64.517) |
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Open Polar |
collection |
University of California: eScholarship |
op_collection_id |
ftcdlib |
language |
English |
topic |
Social psychology Cognitive psychology Games Humor Play Ritual Work |
spellingShingle |
Social psychology Cognitive psychology Games Humor Play Ritual Work Ellerby, Benjamin Adam Toward An Integrated Theory of Play |
topic_facet |
Social psychology Cognitive psychology Games Humor Play Ritual Work |
description |
This paper proposes a four-part schema for categorizing and analyzing meaningful acts with respect to their properties of consequentiality and stylization. Defined by these parameters, I suggest that we can analytically distinguish four distinct modes of meaning: play, game, work, and ritual. The salient attributes of each, but particularly the former two, are discussed, as well as the systemic relations of each to the other. Play is conceived primarily in terms of "going meta", a process by which humans exit the explicit systems of meaning in which they operate and open the terms of that system for problematization. Game, conversely, is defined by a reverse operation in which arbitrary constraints are treated as binding and absolute within a bounded sphere. I conclude with an application of this construct to ethnographic material provided by Jean Briggs studies of Inuit pedagogical practices. |
format |
Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
author |
Ellerby, Benjamin Adam |
author_facet |
Ellerby, Benjamin Adam |
author_sort |
Ellerby, Benjamin Adam |
title |
Toward An Integrated Theory of Play |
title_short |
Toward An Integrated Theory of Play |
title_full |
Toward An Integrated Theory of Play |
title_fullStr |
Toward An Integrated Theory of Play |
title_full_unstemmed |
Toward An Integrated Theory of Play |
title_sort |
toward an integrated theory of play |
publisher |
eScholarship, University of California |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/94r1c6mn |
op_coverage |
58 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-63.017,-63.017,-64.517,-64.517) |
geographic |
Briggs |
geographic_facet |
Briggs |
genre |
inuit |
genre_facet |
inuit |
op_source |
Ellerby, Benjamin Adam. (2016). Toward An Integrated Theory of Play. UC San Diego: Anthropology. Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/94r1c6mn |
op_relation |
http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/94r1c6mn qt94r1c6mn |
op_rights |
public |
_version_ |
1766046125165379584 |