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playing games
2005.06.25 15:52
Like I mentioned a couple of days ago, I'm reading Iacovoni's Game Zone: Playgrounds Between Virtual Scenarios And Reality, and so far I'm a third of the way through. Besides reiterating via the "Introduction" a lot of stuff that is already available in Huizinga's Homo Ludens, Iacovoni also bases his investigation on the Situationnists.
To compliment this reading, I yesterday borrowed Games And Sanctuaries In Ancient Greece: Olympia, Delphi, Isthmia, Nemea, Athens a big new book with lots of images published by the J. Paul Getty Museum.
In doing all this, I'm also continually reminded of all the "play" issues I utilized or introduced at Quondam, design-l and/or architecthetics. For example, on 20 July 1999 here at design-l I suggested:
In replacement of Hall's book, I propose the required reading of first year architect students today should include Johan Huizinga's Homo Ludens - a study of the play element in culture because the contemporary field of architecture is (fundamentally, unavoidably, and inexorably) lots and lots
of games.
There used to be www.quondam.com/ludi and don't forget "Theatrics Times Two" and "Theatrics Times Two, Too."
I'm not sure yet, but I doubt Iacoconi ever mentions the "spoil sport"--that's the game I like to play the most. (Pop goes the weasel!)
And if you can't get a hold of Game Zone, then maybe you'll find Tertullian's De Spectaculis (The Shows) of interest. It's all about the ancient Roman pagan shows and games and why they are so un-Christian. Tertullian was born pagan but died Christian, and he very interestingly tells both sides of the story, which are always good to know.
Oh, and whenever I gamble these days, it's always with the Odds of Ottopia.
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