ABSTRACT
This is a preliminary attempt to connect, schematically, certain cultural events, in which often are embedded messages of play, to different contexts of grid/group analysis (Douglas 1970, 1978). I will suggest that play is a medium of self-reflexivity within these events: but that the measure of reflexivity which is brought to the fore is related itself to the grid/group contexts with which these events may be associated. Thus, each kind of cultural event may carry different reflexive messages of play to the contexts with which it tends to be associated - and therefore also to the persons who live in these contexts, and who participate in these events. In general, through media like that of play, society is enabled to comment to itself about its own routine conditions of existence, their values and their contradictions. (2)
