Urban identity games range from high-stakes passing to low-stakes pretending

Evidence

The social game has a deeper double meaning—that it is played not only in a society as its outward bearer but that with its help people actually “play” “society.” — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 379 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Rare and brief city encounters push people to stylize themselves as sharply individualized — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 759; Preindustrial urbanites signaled their identity through visible costuming; Industrial urbanization destroyed appearance as a reliable clue to strangers’ identities (+5 more)

Related

• In social games players perform the very structure of society itself (similarity 0.83)
• Three urban identity games graded by stakes of being unmasked (similarity 0.80)
• Rare and brief city encounters push people to stylize themselves as sharply individualized (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Identity functions as a costume adaptable to context. #expands (0.75)
• In social games players perform the very structure of society itself #corroborates (0.70) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 379
• Avoiding fearfully-labeled city areas costs urbanites movement and home feeling #exemplifies (0.55)