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"archival series"

Homo Ludens

“All are temporary worlds within the ordinary world, dedicated to the performance of an act apart.”

Homo Ludens

I play and review games; I’ve done the play part more; Homo Ludens isn’t about video games. I felt obligated to read the book as it “felt” related to my experiences with games.

The title of the book “Homo Ludens” translates to “playing man,” similar to the more known “Homo Economicus.” Huizinga shows how the concept of “play” is a precursor to society. It’s interesting because that statement seemed like a reach until I remembered a lot of research in sociology and child development restates the importance of “play.”

If Mind, Self, and Society was about “gestures” and communication through symbols, Homo Ludens highlights the emphatic aspect of communication. Not only do we know what “:)” means, but also what that “feels” like. And you can’t start a long-lasting civilization without empathy.