ITM Bachelor 3. Sem.
8354: Leisure & Event Management I (Seminar): Introduction to International Leisure & Event Management
           

The Rise and Fall of "Leisure" as a concept:

Otium - Negotium : Muße - Nicht-Muße

   - "residual" time
    - "free time" activities
    - meaning and motivation
    - Freizeit = Freiheit?   

- Have people always had Leisure Time?

Work as separated from "being" creates Leisure  

Pre-modern rhythm (seasons, sound) becomes

Modern pulse/time (clock, beat) becomes

Postmodern synchronity (flow, inner clock)

Leisure is a modern concept, no idea of leisure existing in pre-modern time - how about post-modern time?

Commodification of Leisure time -> buying leisure,
also: buying as leisure activity.

Wandern - Trimm-dich Pfad - Stepper

Hausmusik - Records - Music in the Mall

Bettina Franke und Kurt Hammerich (Tourismus Journal 5. Jg. (2001)), Heft 3

Sociology of Leisure is over

The equalization between leisure (non-working-time) and self-fulfilment on the one side and between work and social control on the other side cannot be maintained any more. This equalization was, and still is, crucial for the conceptualisation of sociology of leisure, at least in Germany. In view of the current social development, it is certainly not presumptuous to annouce the end of sociology of leisure.

Arguments:

Leisure (Freizeit) defined as non-working time (negative definition), non-work non-leisure (sleeping, eating, household chores etc.) not clearly positioned.

Tendency to blur difference between structure time blocs work/non-work

  Work - productive Leisure - unproductive. But: 15% of GDP Leisure/Tourism-based

"Leisure policies" important in 1960s/70s, no more today

  Work/Leisure dichotomy result of industrialisation, in post-industrial structures to longer meaningful

"Freizeitgesellschaft" - Work stops to be the denominator of life.

"I am into diving" instead of "I am a clerk"

Leisure (Freizeit) not a part of daily life of non-working people (unemployed, children, pensioners) - majority of society

  In Germany: 82 mio. inhabitants, 39 mio. gainfully employed persons

  Contact: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt FRGS
Bachelor and Master Program International Tourism Management
arlt@fh-westkueste.de, Office 2.018, Tel. 0481 8555-513
Consultation hours (during lecture period): Fr. 10.00-11.00 h