Leisure and recreation - Essay Example

The media boom has definitely resulted in the "active" forms of entertainment taking a back seat. Leisure is time spent in non-compulsory activities. Because leisure time is free from compulsory activities such as job, running a business, performing daily chores, academics and other routine tasks, it is often referred to as "free time". The distinction between leisure and compulsory activities is not strict, as compulsory activities may be done for pleasure as well as for long-term utility1.

Capitalist societies often hold a positive view towards active leisure activities. Many active leisure activities require an investment of time and money. Thus, it is more difficult for the e lesser privileged to engage in such activities and they remain confined only to the affluent section of the society. Capitalist societies often accord members who have more wealth with greater status. Some types of inactive leisure that also require an investment of time and money, such as "doing nothing" in a vacation atmosphere, are also viewed positively.

On the other hand, an individual who "does nothing" at home is often referred to as "lazy" by others in the capitalist society, regardless of their financial and socio-economic status. The wealthy person who does nothing but lounge around the pool at home is seen as lazy. However, the individual's financial investment helps assess the level of status an activity can give a person. So it is that "doing nothing" by your own pool has higher status than "doing nothing" watching television without cable.

The term "Workaholics" describes those who work compulsively at the expense of other activities. These individuals prefer to work rather than spend time socializing and engaging in other leisure activities. Many see this as a necessary sacrifice to attain high-ranking corporate positions. However, these days increasing attention is being given to the effects of such imbalance upon the worker and the family.Historically, "workaholics" would not have been considered a negative asset , rather they would have been highly commended in the US.

In earlier days, American society was driven by the Protestant work ethic which was inspired by the Protestant preacher John Calvin. There are a variety of Protestant sects that stem from Calvinism.A socialist society would probably tend to view activities that do not contribute to society in a negative manner. However, there are different forms of socialism. According to Kent State University professor Marcus Verhaegh, there were Americans who believed in the concept of leisure socialism in the 1960s and '70s.

The general belief was that we live in a world of plenty. Thus, if everyone is content with a smaller piece of the pie, everyone can then have their basic needs met. If everyone's basic needs are met, many in society can use their free time to pursue the arts, mysticism, athletics, various hobbies and other leisure activities.Socialist writer E. Belfort Bax wrote in 1884 of a similar vision for socialist Europe in the article "Socialism and the Sunday Question" for Justice Again that work should be spread about so that everyone is provided with times of rest.

His focus was on the elimination of one universal day of rest, but the general ideas are quite similar to those that emerged in nineteenth century America.Recreation is defined as the employment of time in a non-profitable way, in many ways also a therapeutic refreshment of one's body