The Concept of Leisure - Assignment Example

Part I Question A) Discuss briefly, in your own words the concept of Leisure. I believe that the concept of leisure is best understood when definedby what it isn’t. I think that leisure is an activity we are participating in that doesn’t involve work or even a reward. For example, while many people may enjoy school and specific classes the actual act of going to these classes is not usually a leisure activity because there is an aspect of work related to them. In the back of the person’s mind they understand that by successfully completing these classes they will benefit. For an activity to be a leisure activity I believe that the person must participate in it because they truly enjoy it and will not benefit from it financially, professionally, etc. For example, playing video games is a leisure activity (unless you are a professional video game contestant). Watching movies and television shows are other leisure activities, as people participate in these activities for enjoyment and not compensation. B) Give an example of a leisure you have had and explain why this experience was a leisure experience. The definition stated in your answer to the first question. An example of a leisure activity that I participate in is playing chess with my brother and my father. I consider this a leisure activity because nobody I play with is a professional chess player and we all participate in the chess game out of the enjoyment we receive from challenging each other in the game and socializing with each other. I believe that the chess game would stop being a leisure activity if we became professional chess players and began playing to practice for tournaments. It would also stop being a leisure activity if one us received money to play the game from the other person, as this would mean that we were participating in the game as work. Question 2 Read the story below “Why the Sky is So Far Away.” Tell why you like the story. Please discuss the value lesson in the story in your answer. (Do not write me the story) You are to read the story and tell why you like the story and discuss the value lesson in the story. I enjoyed the story on a number of levels. At the beginning of the story, when the citizens have access to abundant food for free, I appreciated the story as it seemed very peaceful and idealistic. The story states, “The sky tasted delicious...Since people ate from the sky, they didnt have to work to harvest crops.”I believe that this part of the story is a metaphor for earlier times of life, when people lived in closer harmony with nature. It seems that in being close to the sky in the story is similar to past times when groups of people were in direct contact with nature through farming and hunting. As the story goes on and the sky becomes angered with the people I enjoyed the story because it presents a strong value lesson. As people litter and are wasteful with their behavior and consumption it’s clear that nature, represented by the sky has been adversely damaged. This is similar to contemporary times as people continue to litter, are wasteful with food and products, and continue to damage and use-up the planet’s natural resources. Finally, as the woman takes from the sky and wastefully throws away what she has taken, the sky raises out of reach. I believe this section best demonstrates the story’s moral lesson as it shows what can happen to nature if society continues to be wasteful and continues to disregard nature. By continuing to participate in these bad habits, society is becoming farther removed from nature and we should stop acting like this because it’s better to live in harmony with the planet. Question 3 Intrinsic Reward Stimulation I watch crime dramas on television because I think learning about people who have committed extreme crimes is exciting. Accomplishment I like to hike long trails for the sense of accomplishment I get from completing such a difficult journey. Knowledge I read books on exercise and jogging so I can learn better ways to plan my exercise routine and make sure I am not hurting myself. Extrinsic Reward Identified Regulation I am taking classes at the University because I want to educate myself about the world and prepare myself for a career. Introjected Regulation I eat healthy foods because I feel bad eating large amounts of sugar and fat. External Regulation I wear watching clothes because I am embarrassed at what others would think if I didn’t. Part II Question 1 1) what are your nationality, ethnic heritage, and religion: My nationality is African and so is my ethnic heritage as regards to my parents and grandparents. My parents were never very religious people so I grew up without a family religion. This has influenced me later in life, so that today I am without a religion and am an atheist. 2) In your culture, what were considered appropriate and desirable forms of recreation and leisure for Boys and Girls My culture seems somewhat similar to the United States’ culture as far as leisure and recreation is concerned. Boys participated in physical activities such as soccer and wrestling, and sometimes basketball. Girls participated in activities such as playing house – they also played with dolls and similar feminine things. 3) what forms of leisure and recreation, if any, were forbidden or discouraged in your culture. There were very few forms of leisure that were forbidden. My parents didn’t approve of looking at graphic or sexual books or magazines. Other activities that caused harm or damage to buildings or property, such as vandalism or fighting were forbidden. 4) What is the favorite national sport in your country of origin Soccer is the favorite national sport in Africa. 5) Did you play this sport? Why or why not? Yes I did play soccer. Growing up few people played American football or baseball, so one of the only options I had for fun physical activity was soccer. Since then I have enjoyed basketball and other sports considerably. 6) How old were you when you came to the United Stats I was years old 7) As a newcomer, what struck you as the most obvious differences between recreation and leisure in your native country and recreation and leisure in the United States The most noticeable difference in leisure activities between my home country and the United States was that in the United States many more people participated in electronic activities like video games and television. American football is also extremely popular here and not so much in Africa. 8) What aspects of leisure and recreation, if any, do you like better in the United State than in your country of origin, and vice versa The United States’ television programs at much more involved and better made. The same is true of movies, as there are some but very few movies made in or about Africa. I think for these reasons I prefer American leisure activities, because I enjoy watching television and movies. 9) In the United States, do you tend to engage more in the recreation and leisure practices of your country of origin or in those of the United States? Why? As I mentioned earlier I watch a lot of television so I participate more in the activities of the United States. I enjoy these activities more and they are easily accessible. Question 2 “How the tortoise became bald” In the story ‘How the tortoise became Bald’ one discovers how the tortoise, who once had hair, participated in a series of events that led to the tortoise losing its hair for good. I believe that there are a number of value lessons that can be learned from this story. One of the first things I think about concerns the tortoise’s jealousy towards the dogs’ porridge. The story states, “The aroma reached the tortoise who immediately followed his nose which led him to the dogs home. The tortoise went in and saw that a big pot of yam porridge was cooking. Wanting all of it for himself...” In this regard, the story is showing that from the beginning the tortoise is a jealous person as its desire for the porridge leads it to the dogs. The story goes on to state that the tortoise was so envious of the dogs’ porridge that it thought of a trick to get it all for itself. By lying to the dogs about how the king wanted to see them, the tortoise is committing another immoral act. It is also immoral that the tortoise wants to eat all the porridge for itself, and not even save the dogs a small amount. Finally, the tortoise eats most the porridge and then has to hide it under his head when the dogs come home. This shows that the tortoise is still committing deception. Since the tortoise has been jealous and deceptive he has to hide the porridge and it burns his head. It’s clear to me that the moral lesson is that one should not be jealous and dishonest and treat others with respect as this is the best path. The dogs even offer the tortoise some of their porridge. This shows that if the tortoise had acted fair and kind it would have gotten what it wanted all along, and that deceiving the dogs only resulted in harm to itself as the tortoise lost all its hair. Question 3 “The three brothers and the pot of porridge” In the story ‘The three brothers and the pot of porridge’ three brothers on a journey visit an old lady and have an encounter. At the beginning of the story the brothers visit the old lady and despite being very hungry decline her offer of porridge. It seems that the story is showing that in great part the brothers are considerate people and don’t want to impose on the old woman. Later one of the brothers eats the porridge and replaces it with rocks. It seems that the story includes this because it shows that the brother is trying to deceive the old woman. Even though the old woman offered the porridge to them it’s clear that she couldn’t afford to do so and despite being very hungry it was wrong of the brother to eat her porridge. When the old woman discovers that the brother ate the porridge and replaced the bowl with rocks the old woman becomes very mad. It seems that the old woman is probably more angry about how the brother tried to deceive her by replacing the porridge with rocks. She chases after them and has them walk across a log and recite a saying, the younger brother falls into the sea because he is so nervous. It seems that the reason he falls is because he is so guilt ridden and nervous that he cannot contain the deception any longer. Ultimately it seems that the moral of the story is that it’s not correct behavior to try and conceal things from people, as in the end it will result in worse circumstances than if you were honest. It also shows that even though one person might think they can hide from responsibility, their actions and knowledge of guilt will give them away. Part III Question 1 “The tortoise and the lizard” & “Brer Rabbit Fools Sis Cow” In the story ‘The Tortoise and the Lizard’ and the story ‘Brer Rabbit Fools Sis Cow’ there are similar moral lessons to be learned. ‘The Tortoise and the Lizard’ is a story from my home country of Africa. At the beginning of the story a lizard witnesses a farmer move a rock out of the wave and reveals a cave full of yams. The lizard decides to get yams for itself and then tells the tortoise about the cave. Upon discovering the cave the tortoise takes so many yams it gets caught. The story states, “tortoise could not believe his eyes for there were more yams in there than even he could eat, because the tortoise was a very greedy fellow.” By calling the tortoise greedy it’s clear that the story is trying to convey that while it was all right for the farmer and the lizard to take and eat the yams in moderation, when the tortoise decides to take so many yams that the farmer catches it then this causes problems. While the lizard was generous in sharing the secret of the yams with the tortoise in the end the lizard’s generosity came to hurt it because the tortoise was greedy. While the tortoise’s greed was punished as the farmer through it against the wall and broke its shell for good, the lizard was also confronted by the farmer and one can assume that the farmer hid the yams from them both. The ultimate lesson to be learned is that it’s important to not be greedy, and that people need to be careful with who they can trust and help because in the end it might come back to hurt them. The story ‘Brer Rabbit Fools Sis Cow’ is an American folk story and from a different culture than the one I was raised, however it has a similar underlining moral lesson to that of ‘The Tortoise and the Lizard’. In ‘Brer Rabbit Fools Sis Cow’ Brer Rabbit fools Sis Cow into getting its horns stuck in a tree so that it can get milk from it for itself and its family. Later Brer Rabbit fools Sis Cow again when he comes looking for Brer Rabbit. While Sis Cow was acting out of kindness for Brer Rabbit it shows that it’s important to be careful of who you can help because it might come back to hurt you. This lesson is similar to the lesson in ‘The Tortoise and the Lizard’. In both stories an animal is portrayed as helping another animal and in the end it coming back to hurt them. In ‘Brer Rabbit Fools Sis Cow’ the story states, “Humming happily to himself, Brer Rabbit went home to have a big drink of milk, courtesy of Sis Cow.” Another interpretation of the moral lesson of the two stories is that it’s important for people to work at getting their own food and not relying on people to do it for them. In the case of Sis Cow we see that it is Sis Cow’s willingness to help Brer Rabbit procure food rather than making Brer Rabbit get it himself is what gets him into trouble and taken advantage of. In the case of the tortoise and the lizard we see that both the tortoise and the lizard go about getting the yams by stealing them from the farmer. After the tortoise steals the yams he gets caught and the farmer tracks both of them down and cracks the tortoise shell. The moral lesson in this is that the animals should have worked for their food rather than taking it from others as in the end it resulted in the farmer catching them. Read More