Huizinga – Nature and Signifcance of Play

Play is a term that means one or more individuals engage in some type of activity that is for that individual’s enjoyment. Huizinga has a very interesting concept when it come to the word “play”. Huizinga believes that most people think that just because we play people that it cannot be serious. Huizinga uses several examples like football or chess that people take those games seriously. Many people play football and it became and actual profession that is enjoyable for many. I myself love playing sports and video games that I take it seriously and go to tournaments.  I like how Huizinga not only use the expand the idea of play not only us humans engage in, but also animals as well. Animals playing indicates that living beings naturally love to play.

Huizinga goes even further with the term play for not just animals or living beings, but he also uses many types of culture as a form of play. For example, Huizinga takes something like language and try to compare that to play. Huizinga believes that metaphors is a form of play when he states that,” Behind every abstract expression there lie the boldest of metaphors, and every metaphor is a play upon words.” Huizinga use myth since it is using your imagination as a form of play. Since men in earlier times try to figure out how the world works decides to imagine myths and other things that relate to the supernatural. Men in the earlier times take part in rituals which in a way is a form of play since it is an activity that earlier men take part in.

Play is a lot broader term in today’s society. Huizinga’s take on play was a very detailed look on culture and humanity. Like rituals and comparing that too play and believing that it’s not primitive but it’s a way of righteousness.