27526 Leisure Theory

Subject level: Undergraduate

Handbook description

This subject familiarises students with a cross-section of the literature which informs different aspects of leisure theory. The literature addressed draws from sociology, psychology, history, philosophy and leisure studies. The subject familiarises students with contemporary debates and issues in leisure theory, and with the relevance of the leisure theories and theorists to contemporary leisure services and provision.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. discuss a cross section of literature which informs leisure theory
2. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of leisure theory
3. analyse theories and ideas as they relate to leisure and play
4. develop clear and fresh lines of thinking about leisure in its wider social and political contexts.

Contribution to graduate profile

This core subject in the Bachelor of Management in Leisure provides a theoretical foundation and understanding of leisure. In exploring ideas as they relate to leisure and play, it underpins the course as a whole as connections across other subjects are made. Clearer pathways of personal and professional action should also emerge from this exploration.

Teaching and learning strategies

Teaching and learning strategies include class discussion, debate, role plays, essays and examination. Content for this subject will be supported by UTSOnline.

Content

• Introduction — what is theory? meanings of leisure
• Philosophy — classical philosophy and the Greek ideal of leisure
• History — leisure transformed in the industrial revolution
• Political economy — capitalism and leisure (Marx)
• Sociology — play and sociability (Simmel); play, self and social development I (Mead); play, self and social development II (Kelly); communication and the play frame (Bateson)
• Psychology — psychological and psychoanalytical perspectives (Freud and Jung)
• Feminism — leisure as constraint and empowerment
• Postmodernism — simulation; hyper-reality; depthlessness.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Observation of a Segment of Leisure/Play Activity (Individual)

Assessment item 2: Theoretical Interpretation of an Observation of Leisure/Play (Individual)

Assessment item 3: Exam (Individual)

Indicative references

Andrew E (1981) Closing the Iron Cage: The Scientific Management of Work and Leisure Black Rose Books; Montreal.

Bailey P (1978) Leisure and Class in Victorian England Routledge Kegan Paul; London.

Bocock R (1983) Sigmund Freud Ellis Horwood; Sussex.

Buchbinder D. (1994) Masculinities and Identities, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.

Caillois R (1961) Man, Play and Games The Free Press; New York.

Cheek N & Burch W (1976) The social organisation of leisure in human society Harper & Row; New York.

Clarke J & Critcher C (1985) The Devil Makes Work: Leisure in Capitalist Britain Macmillan; London.

Coser L A (1977) Masters of Sociological Thought (2nd ed) Harcourt Brace-Jovanovich; San Diego.

Csikszentmihalyi M (1975) Beyond Boredom and Anxiety Jossey Bass; San Francisco.

Csikszentmihalyi M & I S (1988) Optimal Experience Psychological Studies of flow in consciousness, Cambridge Univ. Press; Cambridge.

Cunningham H (1980) Leisure in the Industrial Revolution Croom Helm; London.

Dare B, Welton G & Coe W (1987) Concepts of Leisure in Western Thought Kendall Hunt, Dubuque; Iowa.

Deem R (1986) All Work and No Play? The Sociology of Women and Leisure Open University Press; Milton Keynes.

de Grazia S (1962) Of Time Work and Leisure Twentieth Century Fund; New York.

Dumazedier J (1967) Towards a Society of Leisure Collier Macmillan; London.

Featherstone M. (1991) Consumer Culture and Postmodernism, Sage, London.

Godbey G (1985) Leisure in your life, an exploration Venture Publishing, State College; Pennsylvania.

Gorz A (1982) Farewell to the Working Class Pluto Press; London.

Gruneau R (1983) Class, Sports and Social Development University of Massachusetts Press; Amherst.

Hargreaves J (ed) Sport, Culture and Ideology Routledge Kegan Paul; London.

Hebdige D (1979) Subculture, the meaning of style Methuen; London.

Huizinga J (1959[1944]) Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play Element in Culture Beacon Press; Boston.

Jackson E L & Burton T L (ed) Understanding Leisure and Recreation (1989) Venture; Pennsylvania.

Jenkins C & Sharman B (1979) The Collapse of Work Eyre Methuen; London.

Jones B. (1996) Sleepers Wake!, Oxford University Press, Australia.

Kaplan M (1975) Leisure: Theory and Policy Wiley; New York.

Kellehear A. (1996) Social Self, Global Culture, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Kelly J (1982) Leisure Prentice-Hall; New Jersey.

Kelly J (1983) Leisure Identities and Interactions George Allen & Unwin; London.

Kelly J (1987) Freedom to Be: A New Sociology of Leisure MacMillan; New York.

Lawrence G & Rowe D (eds)(1986) Power Play: The Commercialisation of Australian Sport Hale & Iremonger; Sydney.

Linder S (1970) The Harried Leisure Class Columbia Univ Press; New York.

Mercer D (1986) In Pursuit of Leisure Sorrett; Malvern, Vic.

Mercer D & Hamilton-Smith E (1980) Recreation Planning and Social Change in Urban Australia Sorrett Publishing; Malvern.

Neulinger J (1974) The Psychology of Leisure Charles C Thomas, Springfield.

Parker S (1983) Leisure and Work Allen and Unwin; London.

Parker S & Paddick R (1990) Leisure in Australia: Themes and Issues Longman Cheshire; Melbourne.

Phillips A (1984) Hidden Hands, Pluto Press.

Pieper J (1952) Leisure, The Basis of Culture Mentor Books; New York.

Rapoport R & Rapoport RN (1975) Leisure and the Family Life Cycle Routledge & Kegan Paul; London.

Roberts K (1978) Contemporary Society and the Growth of Leisure Longman; London.

Roberts K (1983) Youth and Leisure George Allen & Unwin; London.

Rojek C (1985) Capitalism and Leisure Theory Tavistock Publications, London.

Rojek C (ed)(1989) Leisure for Leisure: Critical Essays Macmillan; London.

Rojek C (1995) Decentring Leisure, Sage, London.

Rojek C (2005) Leisure Theory, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Ruis (1976) Marx for Beginners Writers & Readers Publishing Co-operative; London.

Veal AJ (1987) Leisure and the Future George Allen & Unwin; London.

Veblen T (1953[1899]) The Theory of the Leisure Class Mentor Books; New York.

Yeo E & Yeo S (eds)(1981) Popular Culture and Class Conflict 1590-1914 Harvester; Sussex.

Wearing B (1998) Leisure and Feminist Theory Sage, London

Wimbush E & Talbot M (1988) Relative Freedoms: Women and Leisure Open University Press; Milton Keynes.

Selected original theorists whose work has been applied to Leisure and Play

Aristotle (1953[4thC BC]) The Nicomachean Ethics Trans by JAK Thompson, Penguin.

Aristotle The Politics Book VIII (1988) Edited by Stephen Everson, Cambridge University Press; Cambridge.

Bateson G (1973) Steps to an Ecology of Mind Granada Publishing; London.

Freud S (1961[1920]) Beyond the Pleasure Principle trans by J Strachey, WW Norton & Co; New York.

Freud S (1986) The Essentials of Psychoanalysis: The Definitive Collection of Sigmund Freud's Writing selected by Anna Freud, trans by J Strachey, Penguin; Harmondsworth.

Freud S (1985) Civilization, Society and Religion Vol 12, Penguin; Harmondsworth.

Jung C (1968) Man and His Symbols Dell Publishing Co, New York.

Marx K (1967[1844]) Karl Marx: Essential Writings Harper Torch Books; New York.

Mead G H (1933) Mind, Self and Society The University of Chicago Press; Chicago.

Mead G H (1964) On Social Psychology Edited by Anselm Strauss, The University of Chicago Press; Chicago.

Simmel G (1964[1907]) The Sociology of Georg Simmel The Free Press; New York.

Thompson EP (1968) The Making of the English Working Class Pelican; Harmondsworth.