Social Pastimes and Technology's Impact on Culture and Leisure - Prof. Cynthia J. Wachter, Study notes of Hospitality and Tourism

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Common Culture – what most people do most of the time - Everyday pastimes of the majority of a people in a social group - Leisure of the masses - Popular culture, pop culture, mass culture, mass leisure - Most visible and pervasive level of culture in a society - Takes up at least ½ of our free time - Examples: watch tv, listen to music, read a magazine or newspaper, internet, video/computer game, eat fast food) Why study it? - Serves as a kind of mirror of society in which we can see ourselves, we can tell who we are, what we are, and why. - See certain standards and commonly held beliefs about beauty, success, love,or justice. - See social contradictions (race, gender, societies) High Culture – what the “wealthy” do - Unique, expensive, exclusive, elite - “sophisticated” food & drink - Ballet, painting, sculpture - Classical music Folk Culture – more local pastimes shared through direct, oral communication by a specific community or ethnic group - Stories, jokes, urban legends, children’s games Characteristics of Common Culture 1. Popular 2. Commercial 3. Trendy 4. Specific to age groups Scopophilia = pleasure in viewing, particularly of attractive people Youth & Adolescence have big influence on common culture, as do baby boomers Why do teens have influence on pop culture? - Discretionary income - Developmental task is identity development - Pop culture is symbolic of an “age” *also boomers because high numbers and incomes Print Media: Books, Magazines, Newspapers Electronic Media: TV, films, recorded music, computers/internet, video games TV VIEWING: *more TV as you get older (excluding 2-5) *women watch more than men *benefits of TV: families coming together and bonding, like the radio in previous generations BOOKS: *most popular is fiction *reading books for pleasure is decreasing Fads/Trends: Harry Potter & Oprah … also book clubs MAGAZINES: *demographically focused *not going anywhere! *online magazines cross print/electronic boundary NEWSPAPERS: *readership related to education level (less educated, more time) *circulation is on the decline TV: *Why so much?? SO EASY *women watch the most *viewing usually structured by time *for entertainment and information *less money, more TV *longer you watch, more depressed MOVIES: *70% of theatre attendees are 30 and under *films target youth MUSIC: *most money is spent on it *types are demographically focused *many sub-cultures *pluralistic = ethnically, religiously, racially, and socially diverse * Rap/Hip-Hop and Jazz all from US COMPUTERS/INTERNET: *lots of activities (chat, blogs, games, music, photos, gambling, shopping, info) *vocabulary has changed (surfing the net, etc) AMUSEMENT PARKS: *date back to middle ages, carnival like in late 1800s *Ferris Wheel started it = change or maintenance must be recognized as improvement Therefore, some activities of leisure expressions are not beneficial As nations become more industrialized, they become more reliant on leisure as a tool for solving problems. (organized leisure services in the US) Parks take up roughly 1/3 of land in the US During the industrial revolution, working conditions were poor, so there were many movements:: National Park Movement, Central Park, Settlement House Movement Yellowstone was the first National Park In Grecian times, Leisure was an “end” and now it is a “means.” It was PURE and just inherent leisure, now it is all about leisure’s usefulness; how it benefits us, prevents things, enhances things, etc. In Colonial America, the new inhabitants were sort of “re-creating” the conditions in Europe. Then with Westward Expansion, things became a bit more on a level playing field. American character was all about “hard work” can get you anything. Equity: despite how hard you work, you still may not achieve Industrial Revolution conditions were long hours of labor, low wages, unemployment, dangerous environments, child labor, filth, disease, etc. City Park Movement = Frederick Law Olmsted *pluralistic, not cramped, grass, etc. National Park Movement = preserve crown jewels of US *parks then the services Settlement House Movement = Jane Addams (mother of social work) *hull house *improve living conditions Playground Movement = playgrounds to enact responsibility *Friedrich Froebel (father of kindergarten) – play is used to help learn *Gulick – “playground cheaper than reformatory” , restoring and relaxing *Lee – “play is to instill service ideals,” model playground in Boston *Boston Sand Gardens = first supervised playground (created occupation) Ethic of Responsibility = ensure everyone’s pursuit of happiness, what society should look like, responsibility for each other Life was booming until Stock Market Crash Problems to still be addressed : urbanization, suburbanization, environment, changing demographics, etc. Economics = the study of how people use their scarce resources in an attempt to satisfy unlimited wants The desire and ability to purchase leisure and discretionary income is expanding, which makes the leisure industries the fastest growing in the economy. Shopping has become a leisure activity due to the consumption orientated society. Capitalism = an economic system characterized by private ownership of goods and resources Leisure Benefits Economy = benefits expenditures and investments, provides employment, generates taxes, increases property values, prevention of delinquency Leisure Harms Economy = in a tourist locations, drives up prices (inflation) and cost of living, costs of property damage, decreased property value, leisure-related injuiries Balance of Payments = a statement of all goods and services, as well as investments, that flow in and out of a country *tourism helps, but not completely Constraints (something that inhibits participation, etc.) hinder equity in leisure. Three types of constraints: Intrapersonal, Structural, Interpersonal Intrapersonal (something inside of you): lack of skills, self confidence, self image, “genderizing” leisure, morals, knowledge, psychological state, values, beliefs Structural (tangible things that you need to do activity): lack of facilities, environment, inaccessibility of facilities, lack of money, lack of transportation, lack of time Interpersonal (social interaction with others) : friends may now want to do it, providers may exclude types of people when planning activities or programs, language barriers, political Inclusion = involvement and full acceptance of people with disabilities into a wide range of community settings (ADA law) Diversity = recognition and celebration of differences within a unifying sense of togetherness How can leisure enhance equity? Inclusion and diversity Marginality Thesis = people of different races and ethnicities have limited opportunities, this may lead to differences in leisure participation Ethnicity Thesis = people of different races and ethnicities have different norms, values, interests, socialization, etc. which affects the what and how of leisure Assimilation = melting pot theory Women: - Get paid less than men, so less money - Role obligations - Priorities - Usually occurs in home/unstructured - Less time, less of a priority Gays & Lesbians: - Health benefits - Parental and adoptive benefits - May not be able to join memberships At-Risk Youth: - At risk for negative influences when unsupervised - After-school programs - Positive recreation opportunities for self-definition Racial & Ethnic Minorities: - More and more diverse - Melting pot theory is not appropriate for today’s society - We are more of a pluralistic society