Experience in human movement as a play

From a re-examination of J. Huizinga

Abstract

In this study the author considers whether a ‘serious’ physical movement, unaccompanied by cheerful looks, can be regarded as play for man. On this point, Kitada has reported that forms of ‘play which exudes pleasure in the effort to grow up’. The purpose of this paper is to clarify three points concerning play and human movement: 1. We inspect the phenomenon of human activities by which work and constant effort can become an experience of play. 2. What kind of experience is play, compared to other experiences in life? 3. Why a stoic (serious) act and an attitude can be play? This paper does not consider the general phenomenon of play, but only the phenomenon of human activities. The author uses the theory of Huizinga and Takahashi. To classify human movement and sport, we adopt Sato's forms of movement. Consideration of these results support Kitada's argument that ‘play is considered as an activity that involves the least effort and brings as much pleasure as possible’. On the basis of this view, we conclude as follows: 1. According to a subject's experience of play, a man has to suffer and to make efforts by way of action to enjoy play. This can be seen as an aesthetic experience, as in the boat that Nakai drew. 2. We suggest that the existence of ‘the refinement of work (techne)’, and ‘a quick motion’ as an aspect of a concrete physical movement, lead to experience. 3. We conclude that an apparently stoic human movement, which appears as the above ‘a quick motion’ and ‘refinement of work’ may be play.