Playing With Things

Abstract

The sociology of leisure traditionally focuses on human relations, treating any material objects used as marginal to the activity. This article argues that some recreational activity is realized through interaction with material objects and uses the example of windsurfing to show how. Three approaches to understanding the sociological features of the human-object interaction are considered. The first looks at playing as a distinctive type of social activity; how playing with a windsurfer involves 'ilinx' type play (Caillois, 1961) and how it may lead to 'play-excitement' (Elias and Dunning, 1986). The second argues that consumption, through the exchange of value and signs in a variety of discourses, socially locates the play activity of wind surfing. The third approach looks at the way that the user interacts (Mead, 1962; 1980) with the objects of the windsurfer to engage in play.

These three approaches together show that playing with things like wind surfers provides a particular type of emotional outlet, situates the sailor in particular social contexts and shapes particular lines of action, including imaginative and discursive action.