In this blog post, we will examine the essence of play, which began as a ritual in ancient times and has been transformed into consumption in the capitalist and digital age.
In ancient times, people worked hard for their survival, but during certain times of the year, such as festivals, they would gather together to offer sacrifices to the gods and enjoy themselves. Labor is the mundane process by which humans make nature, created by the gods, useful to themselves. This is a sin against the gods because it destroys the original form of nature. Rituals were collective games in which objects that had been made useful were returned to their original state in order to wash away these sins. In ancient societies, rituals in which the most useful objects were offered as sacrifices were widespread. The gods accepted these sacrifices because they were no longer useful. Ancient people shared the offerings to the gods and felt a sense of solidarity as belonging to the same god. This sense of solidarity went beyond mere religious significance and played an important role in strengthening community bonds. Through rituals and games, ancient people were able to relieve the fatigue and stress of daily life and deepen their trust and bonds with one another.
Such play in ancient societies underwent many changes in capitalist societies. Capitalist societies seek to maximize productivity by organizing labor rationally. To this end, the intensity of labor was increased and working hours were extended, but this led to the exhaustion of the workforce and a decline in productivity. Therefore, it became necessary to reduce working hours and increase rest periods. However, even these rest periods are mostly spent consuming goods. For example, to go on a trip, you have to purchase and consume a travel package. This consumption is entertainment for consumers, but it is a means of earning money for travel agencies. Ultimately, consumer entertainment brings capital, the most useful commodity in the capitalist era, into the hands of sellers. This structure transforms the essence of entertainment, making it not just a means of rest and rejuvenation, but a part of economic transactions.
As play takes the form of commodity consumption, the way people enjoy play also changes. While play in the past was mainly in the form of direct participation, play in capitalist society is mostly in the form of spectating or consumption rather than participation. This is because producers have already created play commodities to be consumed in a specific way. To use the example of travel again, travel agencies offer various travel packages, and consumers purchase them and consume them passively. Travel as entertainment has become something that involves simply following a given itinerary rather than exploring and creating. Furthermore, in modern capitalist society, even entertainment is easily subject to the logic of efficiency and competition. Many people seek to “consume” special experiences at travel destinations and evaluate their value based on how unique and special they are. As a result, entertainment loses its true meaning of spontaneity and creativity and is instead transformed into experiences with commercial value.
However, with the advent of the digital revolution, more and more people are seeking to participate in and enjoy play spontaneously. This tendency is more pronounced among the younger generation. The younger generation has a strong desire to be the subject of play. The Internet has made it possible to realize this desire. The main characteristic of the Internet is its interactivity. This is fundamentally different from mass media such as television, which turned the majority of people into spectators. On almost all Internet sites, people are both spectators and participants, acting as both receivers and transmitters, and a sense of solidarity is formed among the participants through these interactive activities. For example, on social media platforms, users are creating new forms of play by sharing content with each other, posting comments, and communicating in real time. This digital play culture goes beyond mere consumption to form new communities through participation, creation, and interaction, and further serves as a tool for social change.
In this way, the nature of play is changing in various ways according to the changes in the times and society. From ancient ritualistic play to modern consumerist play and participatory play in the digital age, the forms and meanings of play are constantly evolving. This shows that play is more than just a leisure activity; it is an important element that reflects human social, cultural, and psychological needs. Through play, people improve their quality of life in various ways, such as escaping from their daily routines, forming relationships with others, and expressing their identities. Therefore, understanding the changes in play and its social impact provides an important perspective for understanding modern society.
