RPTS 601
Origins of Modern Leisure: Objectives & Discussion Questions
Readings

Cross, G. (1990). A Social History of Leisure: Chapters 10-14.
Objectives
1. We will understand how modern sport embraces elements of traditional leisure, rational
recreation, and commercialization of entertainment.
2. We will understand what dilemmas the expansion of leisure time had for policy makers in
the early part of the 20th century.
3. We will understand how technology and consumption shaped leisure in the 20th century.
4. We will understand how youth culture merged with leisure in the 20th century.
Study Questions
1. In what ways did modern sport embrace traditional leisure, rational recreation, and the
commercialization of entertainment?
2. How is sport in the modern and contemporary eras shaped by urbanization?
3. In what ways is sport both exclusive and democratic? How does this create tensions?
4. On page 160, Cross stated, “Sports have not often diffused social problems. Rather, they
are a barometer of a society, its values, and its conflict.” Explain what he means by this.
5. On page 163, Cross stated, "The growth of leisure intensified a fundamental debate in
western societies about the utility of leisure and, even more important, the capacity of
people to adapt to free time." What exactly was this debate about? Exactly was at stake?
Whose interests eventually won out?
6. How did technology transform leisure in the 20th century? What are some characteristics
forms of consumer leisure? In what ways are these leisure forms similar and/or different
from leisure forms in “traditional” society?
7. What was the Gospel of Relaxation?
8. How did the automobile transform leisure?
9. How did suburbanization transform leisure?
10. In Chapter 13, Cross claims that traditional working-class culture persisted into the 20th
century. What evidence does he provide to make this claim?
11. On page 203, Cross stated, “After World War I, the cultural landscape surely was leveled
when almost all Britons and Americans began to watch the same films and listen to the
same recorded music on radio?” What exactly is this leveling effect he is talking about?
12. Cross devotes much space to youth culture. How new is this youth culture? How similar
and/or different are the issues that youth (and adults) face today compared to youth 100
years ago?
13. How did the mass marketing of automobiles and the media change youth-adult
relationships in the second half of the 20th century?
14. Describe the three trends identified by Cross (Chapter 14) that characterize the latter part
of the 20th century.
15. The book was written in 1990. What major trends in leisure would do you think would
need to be included in a second edition of the book?
16. In what ways does leisure/tourism today include elements of (a) popular and elite culture
of the pre-modern world, (b) rational recreation, and (c) the commercialization of
entertainment?