ABSTRACT
This book explores the complex and multi-layered relationships between democracy and play, presenting important new theoretical and empirical research. It builds new paradigmatic bridges between philosophical enquiry and fields of application across the arts, political activism, children’s play, education and political science.
Play and Democracy addresses four principal themes. Firstly, it explores how the relationship between play and democracy can be conceptualized and how it is mirrored in questions of normativity, ethics and political power. Secondly, it examines different aspects of play in urban spaces, such as activism, aesthetic experience, happenings, political carnivals and performances. Thirdly, it offers examples and analyses of how playful artistic performances can offer democratic resistance to dominant power. And finally, it considers the paradoxes of play in both developing democratic sensibilities and resisting power in education. These themes are explored and interrogated in chapters covering topics such as aesthetic practice, pedagogy, diverse forms of activism, and urban experience, where play and playfulness become arenas in which to create the possibility of democratic practice and change.
Adding extra depth to our understanding of the significance of play as a political, cultural and social power, this book is fascinating reading for any serious student or researcher with an interest in play, philosophy, politics, sociology, arts, sport or education.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|60 pages
Play, normativity and contesting democracy
part II|72 pages
Urban spaces and playful activism
chapter Chapter 5|20 pages
On unforeseen constellations and constant flux
chapter Chapter 6|16 pages
The city as Spielraum
part III|46 pages
Playful artistic performance as resistance to dominant power
chapter Chapter 9|18 pages
The gift of silence
part IV|48 pages
Paradoxes of play and democracy in education
chapter Chapter 12|17 pages
Schooling the new sensibility
part V|19 pages
Conclusion