The Game/Play Aspect of Mythology: Genesis, Staging and Experience

Abstract

This paper analyses and compares two related phenomena, namely, game/play and mythology. Particular attention is given to the practical side of mythology, i.e. its implementation within the framework of rituals and other religious practices. First, the study investigates the correlation between mythology/ ritual and playing in terms of their historical transformations, in particular, in the aspect of dependence of the aforementioned religious elements on the game/play and their derivation from the game/play. Next, the author compares the following elements that correspond to the structure of the phenomenon of the game/ play and myth/cult actions: staging (illustrativeness, visualization), experience, dressing up (special role of costume and other attributes), space and time, participants (group), rules, language, and implementation channel. This paper investigates staging and experience. The purpose of the study is to identify and analyse the game/play aspects of mythology and ritual, as well as to establish their dependent or independent relation to the game/play. The main task is a comparative analysis that will determine whether the components of religious practice and playing are identical or just similar. To fulfil the purpose and the task, a number of methods are applied here: analysis and synthesis, comparative historical method, as well as religious, cultural, and psychological approaches. The generally accepted comparative religious method is not applicable in this case due to the specific nature of one of the objects under study (games), in contrast to the general comparative method. As a result of the research, the author comes to the following conclusions: 1) no phylogenetic or historical dependence of mythology and cult actions on the game/play was revealed; 2) ritual practices often resemble such a class of games as Mimicry and have tendencies similar to paidia and ludus; 3) the practical side of mythology is autonomous from the phenomenon of the game/play; 4) a special existential tension inherent in both the game/play and ritual practices was identified. However, the contents of these states are not identical, each having their own characteristics and peculiarities. The established contradictions do not imply ascent to some unity that would determine the dependence of the myth/ritual, making the latter just a derivative of playing (a form of the game/play).