The Evolution of Leisure,
Recreation, and Play
Chapter 2
HPR 200
Spring 2011
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)
Defining Leisure
• Elements
• Conceptualizations
– Perceived freedom
– Autotelic activity
– Beneficial outcome
– Time
– Activity
– State of mind
Play
• Spontaneity
• Expressive
• Done for its own sake
Questions
Evolution
• Continuous change
• Worse to better
• Simple to more complex
Evolutionary Continuum
•
•
•
•
•
Early societies
Old world societies
New world societies
Middle-era societies
Modern societies
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 man…solitary, poor, nasty,
brutish, and short.” —Hobbes
– How might this have applied to the ability to recreate?
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.
Early Societies
• Fire
• Tribes and chiefdoms
– Rituals
– Taboos
– Religion
• Primitive states
– Leisure class
– Amusive leisure
Old World Societies
•
•
•
•
•
Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Israel
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Mesopotamia
•
•
•
•
•
•
Written communication
Wheel
60-minute hour
360 degree circle
Code of law
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
(key development)
Ancient Egypt
• Pharaoh, nobility, craftsmen,
peasants
• Religious ceremonies
• Affluent class engaged in sports
Ancient Israel
• Monotheism
• Sabbath
• Singing and dancing
Ancient Greece
• Schole
• Olympics
• Aristotle
Aristotle’s Three Levels of Leisure
Contemplation
Recreation
Amusement
Ancient Rome
• Seized captives
• Upper class
• 50 to 175 holidays
New World Societies
• Mayans
– Special festivals
– Dramatic performances
• Aztecs
– Stratified society
– Hunting
Middle Era Societies
•
•
•
•
•
China
Japan
India
Islam
Europe
China
•
•
•
•
•
Affluent class
Peasant class
Leisure class
Fireworks
Novels
Japan
•
•
•
•
•
Privileged class
Farmers
Role of women
Samurai
Sumo wrestling
India
• Caste system
• Wealth = leisure
Islam
• Sabbath for recreation and leisure
• Large public festivals
• Separation between men and women
Europe
• European revival
– Merchant class
• European renaissance
– Church of Rome lost power
– Exploration by wealthy
Modern Societies
•
•
•
•
British experience
French experience
German experience
American experience
British
•
•
•
•
Royalty, aristocrats, and commoners
Second home for leisure
Vacations
Sports
French
•
•
•
•
•
52 sabbaths
90 rest days
38 holidays
Monarchy restricted leisure time
Granted public access to estates
German
•
•
•
•
Turnen
Turnplatz
Christian and pagan holidays
Oktoberfest
American
•
•
•
•
•
•
Puritans
Revolutionary War
YMCA/YMHA
Unique American holidays
Television
Travel