ABSTRACT

Play is often considered inferior to the more 'serious' enterprises of work, endeavour and effort; at best, a rehearsal for adult life. This chapter argues that toys need to be situated within specific geopolitical contexts; our focus is upon the history of the 'action figure' toy in both Britain and the US. It shows that, while such discursive approaches are useful in addressing some of the broader aspects of the ludic, they form only part of the picture. There are three dominant theoretical approaches to play that serve as a useful starting point: the utilitarian, the non-instrumental and the ambiguous. War games and exercises have been used for centuries to help military commanders play through battlefield scenarios. While toys can and should be situated within their geopolitical contexts, we also want to draw attention to another aspect of particular relevance for thinking through questions of geopolitics and play.