13. Work, Leisure And Consumption Flashcards
What was production and identity like in the 19th century?
-Identity largely work based there was little/no time for leisure
-Identity dependant on ‘what’ you were not ‘who’ you were.
What was production and identities like in the 20th century?
-Changed from production to service
-Clear divide between work and home
-Shorter working hours, 5 day week
-Wages increased so people gained both time and money
What was leisure like in the 20th century?
-Time of freedom from work and education
-Distinction between work and leisure became more blurred eg as many people enjoy work, people work in leisure industry’s
What did Parker’s interviews with workers conclude?
There were three relationships between work and leisure: Extension patterns, Neutrality patterns, Opposition pattern.
What is Parker’s Extension Pattern?
Identity and leisure very closely associated with work.
-Typical of those with high status and satisfying jobs
-Identity largely comes from their jobs eg professionals & managers
What was Parker’s Neutrality pattern?
-Individuals with low levels of autonomy or control over their work.
-Work was no closely linked to leisure
-Leisure focused around family activities.
What was Parker’s Opposition pattern?
-Leisure was an escape from work. -Typical of those involved in heavy manual labour jobs.
-Drinking in pubs was typical of the leisure activity of this group
Criticisms of Parker’s work
-Ignores others influences that shape identity
-Paid not attention to ethnicity, gender or age
-Deterministic, assumes leisure patterns are determined by work, leaving people with little agency or choice over their leisure identities
What did Bourdieu say there was an intricate relationship between?
Social class, culture and leisure.
What is Ken Robert’s view of leisure? (Pluralism)
Leisure activities are largely a matter of choice.
What did Robert’s research on men in Liverpool conclude?
-Certain leisure activities were seen in all social groups eg watching television, drinking alcohol, gambling
-The stage in someones life cycle effects leisure activities e.g if they had children and age
What do Clarke and Critcher believe leisure is shaped by?
Leisure activities are largely shaped by capitalist society’s. They argue capitalism shapes not only the nature of work but also the nature of leisure, and individuals are manipulated in capitalist society to take part in certain sorts of activities.
What do Clarke and Critcher argue about how the state Infleucnes leisure?
The state tries to encourage people to take part in healthy leisure pursuits that are not a threat to the stability and order of society. This is because it helps save the state money on healthcare.
What do Clarke and Critcher say about leisure and private businesses?
Most leisure is run by private businesses and is increasingly commercialised Eg Film, gambling, brewing.
What do Clarke and Critcher say about manipulation and peoples identity’s?
Peoples identities are manipulated in favour of mass, consumer market for particular goods and services. However they say there are some groups that resist manipulation.
