Play as Identity
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The one idea from the chapter that stuck with me most was the bit at the end of the chapter on the purpose of festivals being to create chaos before communal order. This principle applies to at least one aspect of my social past. Specifically, I think that any time my friends and I go out at night, we are engaging in the chaotic element of the festival. In this chaos we come upon adversity, and often have to overcome this adversity by cooperating and working together. I actually have a little side theory, which posits that celebrating Bacchus (so to speak) is actually very valuable in a person's personal development, since it usually presents moments of adversity that can be overcome with the reward of experience and wisdom. Anyway, after the chaos, it is customary for my friends and me to get together the day after and recall the previous night's events. We reflect upon the chaos, learn from it, laugh about it, are shamed by it, whatever. The point is that it sparks communal emotions, thoughts, and general feelings of camaraderie. Reflecting upon the chaos, we gain perspective on order and what it means in our lives. As we celebrate Bacchus together, we engage in "exhibition, validation, or parody of membership" (Sutton-Smith, 91). We set many of our differences aside and silently agree that tonight, reversal of daily social life will occur. In this way, we are engaging in cooperative play that identifies us as a group which is ready to engage in chaotic play. On some level, it's dangerous play and therefore it's not surprising that our play is more cooperative than competitive. Like the native tribes, we tend to require each other's help and support to "survive." The order out of chaos theory could be regarded as an offshoot of the progress rhetoric, but it has more to do with communal progress and reflection than the development of some individual skill. Seeing as the play I described is cooperative, the power rhetoric does not apply. Lastly, while there are elements of gambling and out-of-body experience elements tied to celebrating Bacchus, the primary function of this play example is to create a sense of camaraderie with others. After all, if one celebrates Bacchus by himself, it's looked upon as strange and unhealthy.
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Bacchus as play as identity?
By aimeeHi, LuGames Inc.
An interesting example of play as identity.
You write: “...Bacchus (so to speak) is actually very valuable in a person's personal development, since it usually presents moments of adversity that can be overcome with the reward of experience and wisdom.” Perhaps this is so, but far more important to this post than wisdom and experience is how this play is related specifically to to identity. Maybe wisdom and experience are related to identity? If so, this needs to be stated and explained. Either way, leaving out mention of identity as you set up your argument does not help you make a strong case here.
Also, although we often like to commend ourselves for “getting crazy” when tearing it up with friends, I don't see from your post how reversal of social life happens in your social “nights of chaos.” Sutton-Smith talks about this type of thing happening in rare occurrences under pretty specific circumstances. You may be a wild bunch, but I am not convinced that a reversal of social life happens "any time" you go out with your friends, as you write. If it does, however, you will need to develop this idea further so the reader sees how. Explaining more about your group's celebration of "Bacchus" and the ways play happens within it that cause members to take on roles much separate from those inhabited in typical lives would be needed to make this point.
And, careful! Play as power can, indeed, be cooperative. This does not distinguish it from play as identity.
Beyond this, your post hits on some great points. You write that “(t)he point is that it sparks communal emotions, thoughts, and general feelings of camaraderie.” Yes. This is a nice way to conceptualize the play you are involved in with your friends during a rowdy night out. Good choice of quotes to expand your discussion of how you and your group bond together and develop camaraderie by agreeing, collaboratively, to set differences aside as you venture out into the night as a group. By doing so, you allow yourselves to all willingly enter together into this play together. Also, nice thoughts given to how this cooperative play (and its players, perhaps) takes on certain characteristics based on what you, as a group, typically do, or are willing to do, together. This is related to play as identity. More overt statement of this bonding and camaraderie through play being related specifically to identity would help stress your central argument, which would most directly address the question. And your ending should also be sure to address the topic of the assignment. Yours does, but you leave it to the reader to draw connections back to identity. This is not the reader's job. Make these connections more overt. Also, break your writing up into paragraphs to help organize your thoughts.
Overall, a good example with solid mechanics and with some parts strongly backed by the chapter. Be sure to explain the points you are trying to make well, and review play as power to clarify and confusions about it being a strictly solitary endeavor. Also, from here on out, give your post a title that reflects your unique content. Looking forward to the next one.
aimee