“The Evolution of Play” – how we used to play and what we consider play presently.
I began by brainstorming activities which are considered to be playing … playing with dolls, tag, being on the computer, playing in the sandbox, sports, video games, going to the movies, going to dances.
I started off the video at the park-where play is key. Being on the playground, on the swings. The game of Tag then follows as the cast chase each other down the trail-a staple of any childhood. Climbing trees gives anyone a sense of imagination and accomplishment. I then added going to the movies as we all do that for fun nowadays. A clip of Jennie Berube shows how cell phones are quickly becoming a form of play, whether you’re talking to someone-arranging to do something, or playing games. Video games/ being on the computer are forms of play as people are less likely to go outside if they gain the same enjoyment of these virtual environments in the comfort of their own homes. We all remember playing cards don’t we? Go fish anyone ? I give the viewer a sense of flashbacks after playing in the sandbox follows driving-as we can drive to our destinations and find ways to entertain ourselves or simply drive to an unknown area and explore. Also, playing any type of sport keeps one occupied and active. During the filming of this video, I witnessed Micael Lamontagne and Scott Schell fighting over a stick-silly, but it got me thinking.. It was common for children to fight over a better toy of any sort to gain the most enjoyment. When playing as a child especially, there was always that one person that was the show-off. The person that tried to out-do everyone and be the center of attention. In the video, this is displayed as two are jogging and another races by.. where is the fun in that? Those who took their time and didn’t rush through their activities gained the most satisfaction. The last scene is of the cast all coming together, that through the years of fighting over toys, they were able to look back and cherish all the times they played together and enjoyed one’s company.
I chose the song Do You Remember by Jay Sean because as the viewer watches the video, it helps them to remember their past and how play influenced their lives. A verse in the song is as follows “lets bring it back”. I felt this could symbolize one considering they could bring back those old forms of play and still be entertained many years later.
This video was inspired by childhood forms of play and how they evolved over time. The largest change would have to be the advancement in technology and how most people can be entertained sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time. I did not summarize the video during each scene simply to allow the viewer to interpret what I was attempting to portray for themselves.
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