SuttonSmith, B

The Ambiguity of Play

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ISBN 13:: 9780674005815
author:: SuttonSmith, B
format:: Paperback
publisher:: Harvard University Press
language:: English
Publication Year:: 2001
Pages:: 288
Dimensions:: 15 x 1.8 x 22.8 centimetres (0.4
Genre:: Psychology
Condition:: New
Availability:: Item usually sent within 10 working days

£36.53

Current Stock: 5

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Description

Description

The Ambiguity of Play by Brian Sutton-Smith explores the concept of play in various disciplines, from biology and psychology to metaphysics and sociology. Sutton-Smith examines seven distinct "rhetorics" that have shaped our understanding of play, including ancient discourses on Fate, Power, and Frivolity, as well as modern discourses on Progress, the Imaginary, and the Self. Through a sweeping analysis, Sutton-Smith reveals the values, historical sources, and interests that have influenced the development of each rhetoric's "objective" theory. He argues that despite their differences, these discourses share commonalities in their portrayal of play as a flexible and variable concept. This book offers a nuanced understanding of play and its potential to inform a new social science. Sutton-Smith's work provides a thought-provoking examination of the complexities surrounding play, highlighting its role in shaping our understanding of human nature and society.

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