Play and improvisation

psmagorinsky who-is-at uoknor.edu
Sat, 10 Feb 96 18:42:41 -0600

Debi Goodman's comments on Vygotsky's attention to play got forwarded to
xmca, where it's getting attention away from the Vygotsky conference
network. I'm forwarding Chuck Bazerman's response to the Vygotsky list
(which will then forward it to xmca) in the hopes that future discussants
will respond to the Vygotsky network return address so that it will pass
through both networks. (I hope that makes sense.)

>From Chuck:
>
> I have been waiting for someone to bring up in this thread on
>play and improvisation LSV's intriguing comment that play involves
>following a rule. My class last term spent quite a time puzzling through
>that one. What do all of you think that LSV nmeans by that, and how does
>it bear on the issues raised in this thread?
> The passage I have been referring to begins on page 94 in Mind in
>Society, in the essay "The Role of Play in Development" with the comment:
> "One could go further and propose that there is no such thing as
>play without rules. The imaginary situation of any form of play already
>contains rules of behavior, although it may not be a game with formulated
>rules laid down in advance. The child imagines himself to be the mother
>and the doll to be the child, so he must obey the rule of maternal behavior."
>
>The discussion of rules continues for about two pages, but the concept is
>central for the entire chapter.
>
>Chuck Bazerman
>
>
Peter Smagorinsky
University of Oklahoma
College of Education
Department of Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum
820 Van Vleet Oval
Norman, OK 73019-0260
(405)325-3533
fax: (405)325-4061
smagor who-is-at aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu
psmagorinsky who-is-at uoknor.edu