The Evolution of Leisure, Recreation, and Play Chapter 2

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The Evolution of Leisure, Recreation, and
PlayChapter 2

• HPR 200
• Spring 2011

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Quiz

• Name the three components of leisure. (2 pts)
• Name the three ways to conceptualize leisure. (2
  pts)
• Identify the three components of play. (1 pt)

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Defining Leisure

• Elements
• Perceived freedom
• Autotelic activity
• Beneficial outcome

• Conceptualizations
• Time
• Activity
• State of mind

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Play

• Spontaneity
• Expressive
• Done for its own sake

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Questions
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Evolution

• Continuous change
• Worse to better
• Simple to more complex

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Evolutionary Continuum

• Early societies
• Old world societies
• New world societies
• Middle-era societies
• Modern societies

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Lets talk history

• In early cultures and societies, would recreation
  have been valued? Why or why not? In what forms?
  How might religion and social hierarchy have been
  factors? As societies diversified, how did
  recreation change?
• the life of every mansolitary, poor, nasty,
  brutish, and short. Hobbes
• How might this have applied to the ability to
  recreate?

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In the earliest societies

• Recreation was reserved for the general
  populations only on special occasions such as
  religious holidays or feast days.
• More wealthy members in more complex class
  systems may have been members of leisure classes.

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Early Societies

• Fire
• Tribes and chiefdoms
• Rituals
• Taboos
• Religion
• Primitive states
• Leisure class
• Amusive leisure

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Old World Societies

• Mesopotamia
• Ancient Egypt
• Ancient Israel
• Ancient Greece
• Ancient Rome

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Mesopotamia

• Written communication
• Wheel
• 60-minute hour
• 360 degree circle
• Code of law
• Hanging Gardens of Babylon (key development)

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Ancient Egypt

• Pharaoh, nobility, craftsmen, peasants
• Religious ceremonies
• Affluent class engaged in sports

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Ancient Israel

• Monotheism
• Sabbath
• Singing and dancing

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Ancient Greece

• Schole
• Olympics
• Aristotle

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Aristotles Three Levels of Leisure
Contemplation
Recreation
Amusement
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Ancient Rome

• Seized captives
• Upper class
• 50 to 175 holidays

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New World Societies

• Mayans
• Special festivals
• Dramatic performances
• Aztecs
• Stratified society
• Hunting

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Middle Era Societies

• China
• Japan
• India
• Islam
• Europe

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China

• Affluent class
• Peasant class
• Leisure class
• Fireworks
• Novels

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Japan

• Privileged class
• Farmers
• Role of women
• Samurai
• Sumo wrestling

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India

• Caste system
• Wealth leisure

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Islam

• Sabbath for recreation and leisure
• Large public festivals
• Separation between men and women

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Europe

• European revival
• Merchant class
• European renaissance
• Church of Rome lost power
• Exploration by wealthy

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Modern Societies

• British experience
• French experience
• German experience
• American experience

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British

• Royalty, aristocrats, and commoners
• Second home for leisure
• Vacations
• Sports

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French

• 52 sabbaths
• 90 rest days
• 38 holidays
• Monarchy restricted leisure time
• Granted public access to estates

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German

• Turnen
• Turnplatz
• Christian and pagan holidays
• Oktoberfest

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American

• Puritans
• Revolutionary War
• YMCA/YMHA
• Unique American holidays
• Television
• Travel