# Homo Ludens **Domain:** Play theory / Cultural history **Doc Type:** Developed Wiki Node **Maturity:** Developed **Collection:** [[collections/Gamification|Gamification Collection]] ## Definition ***Homo Ludens*** is Johan Huizinga's study of play as a constitutive element of culture, law, ritual, poetry, contest, and social order rather than a decorative leisure activity. ## Significance It provides the cultural foundation for reading tournaments and games as institutional forms with effects outside play. ## Sources - [[articles/gamification/Lex Sportiva and Winning Without Bloodshed|Lex Sportiva and Winning Without Bloodshed]] - [Primary or institutional source](https://www.beacon.org/Homo-Ludens-P1172.aspx) ## Routes [[wiki/Johan Huizinga|Johan Huizinga]] · [[wiki/Roger Caillois|Roger Caillois]] · [[wiki/Gamification|Gamification]] · [[articles/gamification/Lex Sportiva and Winning Without Bloodshed|Lex Sportiva and Winning Without Bloodshed]]