Playthings and Playtimes

An exploration of the global language of play--and its local accents. There is an inherent contradiction in play: it is universal, a basic part of human nature, but it also takes radically different forms, shaped by the design sense, technology, and values of its particular time and place. This volume explores this contradiction through a wealth of engaging examples that bring play, emotions, and the ludic into dialogue with material culture, affect theory, psychoanalysis, childhood studies, and other fields. Topics range from playground architecture, plastic toys, and children's magazines to the complexities of children's play in a post-digital world.