Everyday life and locative play

An exploration of Foursquare and playful engagements with space and place

Bibliographic Data

ID11268930
AuthorsMichael Saker (0000-0002-7414-2840, Southampton Solent University, corresponding author), Leighton Evans (0000-0002-6875-6301, University of Brighton)
Year2016
Volume38
Issue8
Pages1169-1183
Publication date2016-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedia Culture & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-4437 • E-ISSN: 1460-3675
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0163443716643149
OpenAlexW2337998828
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited38

Foursquare is a location-based social network (LBSN) that combines gaming elements with features conventionally associated with social networking sites (SNSs). Following two qualitative studies, this article sets out to explore what impact this overlaying of physical environments with play has on everyday life and experiences of space and place. Drawing on early understandings of play, alongside the flâneur and ‘phoneur’ as respective methods for conceptualizing play in the context of mobility and urbanity, this article examines whether the suggested division between play and ordinary life is challenged by Foursquare, and if so, how this reframing of play is experienced. Second, this article investigates what effect this LBSN has on mobility choices and spatial relationships. Finally, the novel concept of the ‘phoneur’ is posited as a way of understanding how pervasive play through LBSNs acts as a mediating influence on the experience of space and place

Aesthetics · Art · Cognitive reframing · Context (archaeology · Epistemology · Everyday life · Linguistics · Locative case · Sociology · Urbanity · Computer Science · History · Night-time city culture · Psychology · Sharing Economy and Platforms · Social Psychology · Spatial and Cultural Studies

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