EDS6062 - The History of Play

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 Discuss the changing conceptualisation of play, with a focus on cultural factors relevant to an understanding of attitudes towards children and childhood from a range of historical periods
2 Explore critically the links between ethics, politics, culture and ideology in children’s changing experience of play from the medieval period to the late twentieth century
3 Apply, in an analysis of primary sources relating to play, such as material objects, games, songs, visual media and written texts, an understanding of the changing conceptualisation of childhood
4 Synthesise, organise and present knowledge and understanding in both a written form and through oral presentation

Content:

This module addresses the changing experience of children and conceptualisation of childhood through the history of play from the medieval to the modern period. Key areas of concern will include adult/child relations as expressed through play, and the spaces and cultures of the early years.
This module will include a study of:
Concepts of childhood and who gets to play – class, age, sex?
Material histories – toys and their representation
Putting aside childish things – adults collecting childhood’s objects, museum spaces and display
The spaces of play – nurseries, the fresh air movement, playgrounds – and their problems e.g. segregation by Color in the USA
The folklore of play – the Opies, children’s songs and rhymes, and the games children play
Didactic play vs. play for pleasure – concepts of play, Sundays, developmental and progressive theories
The business of play – histories of the toy industry

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be taught through workshop sessions, during which students will address key questions based on preparatory reading and analyse primary sources. In addition, there will be two field visits: one to a museum (e.g. Abbey House Museum) and one to an appropriate heritage site (e.g. Harewood House) to look at the material objects and spaces of play.

Workshop
Contact hours: 30

Field visits
Contact hours: 10

Assessment: