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Caillois, R. (2001). Man, play and games. M. Barash, Trans. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press. 
Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard (3/2/25, 1:11 AM)   
Resource type: Book
Language: en: English
Peer reviewed
BibTeX citation key: Caillois2001
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 Categories: General
Keywords: Play
Creators: Barash, Caillois
Publisher: University of Illinois Press (Urbana and Chicago)		 Views: 127/127
Notes
Caillois' typology of play:
  • Agôn—competitive play with rules and limits, thus games and sports. Humans and, in some cases, non-humans (from p.14)
  • Alea—games of chance. Humans only (and then, rarely indulged in by children) (from p.17)
  • Mimicry—temporary acceptance of an illusory and simulated universe, role play, theatre, etc. Humans and, despite Caillois' doubts, some animals including insects. As Caillois admits that insect mimicry, playing a part as a human might, is often an intrinsic part of the body (thus not temporary), this is why he has his doubts—he does not mention insects such as stick insects temporarily mimicking dry twigs, leaves, etc (from p.19)
  • Ilinx—a momentary destruction of the stability of perception, the pursuit of vertigo. Rollercoasters, rapid spinning by children and trance-inducing dancing, scything wild flowers down for no apparent reason. Caillois describes certain non-human activities as ilinx—sheep gyrating (for me, my dogs chasing their tails) (from p.23)

These types exist to greater or lesser extents in different cultures and may often be combined.


Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard  Last edited by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard
Quotes
pp.5–6   "A characteristic of play, in fact, is that it creates no wealth or goods, thus differing from work or art. At the end of the game, all can and must start over again at the same point. Nothing has been harvested or manufactured, no masterpiece has been created, no capital has accrued. Play is an occasion of pure waste: waste of time, energy, ingenuity, skill, and often of money"   Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard
Keywords:   Culture Play
Comments:

Compare this to his predecessor Huizinga who states that play is a defining part of culture (Huizinga 1980/1949).



Huizinga, J. (1980). Homo ludens: A study of the play-element in culture. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. (Original work published 1949).   Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard  (2025-03-02 12:20:13)
Paraphrases
pp.15–16   Caillois, unlike Huizinga, defines a typology of play and games and some of these he finds instances of in the non-human world. As an example, agôn is competitive, rules-based play—prima facie not found in non-humans because animals have no conception of rules or limits. However, Caillois, like Huizinga (who explicitly notes animal rules and limits), notes that some animals, notably immature mammals, do engage in friendly duelling.   Added by: Mark Grimshaw-Aagaard
Keywords:   Play
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