Revisiting a classic: Roger Caillois on Gambling and Culture

Session Title

Session 3-1-E: Gambling, Culture, and Society

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

25-5-2023 9:00 AM

End Date

25-5-2023 10:30 AM

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences | Sociology | Sociology of Culture

Abstract

Roger Caillois’ classic text Man, Play and Games (published in French in 1958, and English in 1961) sought to provide an overarching analysis of the cultural significance of play and games, and was also one of the few mid-century texts to provide a serious discussion of the place of gambling in culture. This paper will revisit some of the main themes in Caillois’ book, situating gambling in relation to games, and discuss some of the tensions presented by Caillois’ analysis. It will also draw upon Caillois’ discussion of agon (competition) and alea (chance) to provide an interpretation of the place of gambling in contemporary late modern/capitalist culture.

Implications: Caillois’ book provides important concepts for the sociological and cultural analysis of gambling, and a framework for theorizing the ubiquity of gambling in late modern culture. Particularly relevant are his formulations related to the concepts of agon (competition) and alea (chance) as these can be applied to particular socio-historical formations. These formulations can be productively applied in relation to various social forces in late modern culture.

Keywords

Keywords: gambling, Roger Caillois, agon, alea, culture

Author Bios

James Cosgrave is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Trent University’s Durham campus. His primary research areas focus on gambling legalization and expansion, and sociological and cultural analyses of gambling. Recent articles include: “Gambling Ain’t What it Used to Be: The Instrumentalization of Gambling and Late Modern Culture”, Critical Gambling Studies, 2022, 3 (1) and “Celebrating the Contingent: The Modern Lottery as Collective Representation in Late Capitalism”, Canadian Journal of Sociology, 2021, 46 (2). His books include The Sociology of Risk and Gambling Reader (2006, Routledge), Casino State: Legalized Gambling in Canada (2009, co-edited with Thomas Klassen, UT Press), and Desiring Canada: CBC Contests, Hockey Violence, and Other Stately Pleasures (2013, with Patricia Cormack, UT Press).

Funding Sources

Funding will be applied for from the SSHRC International Travel Grant facilitated by Trent University, pending acceptance of the paper. The funding body has no involvement in any aspect of the research.

Competing Interests

None

Comments

Contact info/affiliation:

James Cosgrave

Associate Professor, Sociology

Trent University Durham

55 Thornton Rd. South

Oshawa, Ontario, L1J5Y1

905-435-5102, #5049

jimcosgrave@trentu.ca

Share

COinS
 
May 25th, 9:00 AM May 25th, 10:30 AM

Revisiting a classic: Roger Caillois on Gambling and Culture

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Roger Caillois’ classic text Man, Play and Games (published in French in 1958, and English in 1961) sought to provide an overarching analysis of the cultural significance of play and games, and was also one of the few mid-century texts to provide a serious discussion of the place of gambling in culture. This paper will revisit some of the main themes in Caillois’ book, situating gambling in relation to games, and discuss some of the tensions presented by Caillois’ analysis. It will also draw upon Caillois’ discussion of agon (competition) and alea (chance) to provide an interpretation of the place of gambling in contemporary late modern/capitalist culture.

Implications: Caillois’ book provides important concepts for the sociological and cultural analysis of gambling, and a framework for theorizing the ubiquity of gambling in late modern culture. Particularly relevant are his formulations related to the concepts of agon (competition) and alea (chance) as these can be applied to particular socio-historical formations. These formulations can be productively applied in relation to various social forces in late modern culture.