Culture and Leisure: Is There Any Relationship Between The Two - Literature review Example

CULTURE AND LEISURE: IS THERE ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO? Name Name of Class Name of Professor Institution Affiliation City and State Date Culture and Leisure: Is There Any Relationship Between The Two? According to Auger et al. (1999, 1), the topic of culture and leisure has been explored extensively. Many researchers and writers have produced texts about the topic, exploring different aspects of culture, leisure, and how the two relate to each other. Therefore, this begs the question, how does culture and leisure relate to each other? The focus of most of the texts is the relationship between culture and leisure as opposed to the study or understanding of cultural leisure pursuits that specific groups take part in. Auger et al. (1999, 1) go on to state that there are also studies that have attempted to do an examination of the interest and participation of segmented groups in cultural leisure activities. An example of such studies was a study done by Aguilar (1990). Aguilar’s study focused on the recreational pursuits of Mexicans in the United States and went ahead to define cultural leisure activities as those being representative of the dominant mainstream society or the Mexican culture. Another study was also done to examine preferences and participation of Greek immigrants who moved to the Canadian country. The purpose of this essay is to examine culture, leisure, and the relationship between the two based on a wide range of aspects including interdependence and well-being. The paper will study culture and leisure independently and discuss the connection between the two in terms of how people take part in them. The viewpoints of various researchers will be presented to support the theories and points brought forward in the essay. Definition of Culture The English word ‘Culture’ comes from a Latin word cultus or cult, which translates to cultivating, tilting or refining and worship. In summary, the word refers to the refining and cultivation of something to a point that the final result is respectable and admirable (Nios.ac.in, n.d, 1). Culture refers to the way of life of people. It spans all aspects of life ranging from worship to eating habits. Culture embodies the way people do things and think. Some cultural practices are inherited while others are personal achievements. According to Nios.ac.in (n.d, 1), culture encompasses literature, music, architecture, art, religion, science, philosophy, and sculpture. It also extends to cover festivals, lifestyles, traditions, customs, and personal outlook on various issues. Nios.ac.in (n.d, 1) thus defines culture as the human-made environment that encompasses material and non-material products of group life, which are passed down from generation to generation. According to Nios.ac.in (n.d, 2), scientists generally agree that culture is made of implicit and explicit patterns of behaviour that human beings acquire. Therefore, culture has its heart in the finer ideas transmitted within a group historically and selected with attached value. Culture is a denotation of transmitted patterns of meanings embodied within symbols, used by people for communication, the perpetuation of knowledge, and expression of attitudes regarding life (Nios.ac.in, n.d, 2). According to Zadka (2008, 1), the root of a nation’s cultural assets is in its national traditions and behaviour. In most cases, Zadka (2008, 1) states that the cultural assets are specific to ethnic sub-groups in the specific country. That makes it necessary to categorize ethnocultural resources according to the sub-groups in the country. This view presented by Zadka seems in line with what is suggested by the author at Nios.ac.in that the culture of a people is rooted in their patterns of behaviour and is passed along from one generation to the next. Both authors identify and associate culture with specific cultural assets within the group of people under study. The stand of the two authors above clearly indicates that culture is a work product of a group of people and is possessed by that group of people. The history of the specific culture remains with the people that possess the culture. Types of Culture The idea of culture being sub-divided among the various groups of people in the society is supported by Browne (2008, 31) at polity.co.uk. According to Browne (2008, 31), the dominant culture is the main culture that most of the people in the society accept and live by. This culture is generally accepted without opposition. An example given by Browne (2008, 32) regarding dominant culture is that of property and views held by white male citizens in Britain being given more value and priority over those of other groups of people. That means that white male Britons generally have more say in the matters regarding what is good or bad for the society than other people. They are also given more power, and their property is considered more important or more valuable even though it may not have any observable or significant differences from what other people have. The population in every country can be broken down into smaller units in regard to certain criteria. When the number of people within a given group is small, but the individuals still form part of a bigger unit within the country, they may observe ways of life different from what is common in the larger group. The way of life this small group observes is what Brown (2008, 32) refers to as a subculture. Members belong to a bigger population, but still exercise different ways of life besides the dominant culture. According to Brown (2008, 32), high culture is another form of culture viewed as being superior to other forms of culture that may be existing within a given location. This kind of culture is interested in cultural aspects viewed as having lasting literary or artistic value whose aim is a small population made of intellectual elites. It is predominant among people from the middle-class and upper-class who have an interest in critical analysis discussion and new ideas. They are regarded as having good taste. According to Brown (2008, 32), high culture is viewed as something out of the ordinary way of life deserving of reverence and respect. It is made of valuable things that have a heritage that should be preserved (Angelaki and Britain, 2007, 1-5). Thus, people who indulge in high culture fall in their own sub-group within the larger population, continuing the notion that culture often breaks down a population into sub-groups of people. Leisure According to Veal (2004, 2), leisure has several definitions that give it different meanings depending on how it is applied. However, it refers to the block of free time, spare time or unoccupied time that one has and can use it for any purpose they choose. Thus, leisure time does not include the time people engage in mandatory exercises that contribute to their existence such as sleeping, eating and medication. It also occurs outside exercises that lead to the earning of a living such as schooling and working. During this time, according to Veal (2004, 2), one can do whatever their minds tell them to do without restrictions. Another definition provided by Veal (2004, 3) states that leisure consists of the various occupations people indulge in for various reasons such as personal amusement, resting, learning, and improvement of skills. In this sense, leisure becomes an activity that one engages in during their free time. According to Socialreport.msd.govt.nz (2010, 92), the social report states that a balanced and healthy lifestyle is one that incorporates some level of leisure and recreation. The report states that leisure time presents people with free time to do whatever they want away from other work responsibilities. According to the report, when people engage in leisure activities, they gain some sense of personal autonomy and identity. Thus, personal and community life is given meaning through engagement in leisure activities, and it contributes to the quality of life of the people who engage in it. Recreations offer encouragement for personal growth and self-expression besides offering people opportunities to learn and satisfy personal needs that cannot be satisfied during non-leisure times. When people are free, they engage in physical activity, which is helpful for eliminating health problems related to inactivity (Meeras, 2010, 3-5). Another report produced by Focus (2009, 20) states that the benefits that arise from leisure activities are not only restricted to the individual who engages in those activities. The benefits extend to many other people in different forms. For instance, when one engages in some form of leisure activity, it may benefit other people in the form of improved personal relationships and better family function resulting from various causes. The report by Focus (2009, 20) defines leisure from three perspectives, including time, the state of mind, and activities. This definition is consistent with the definitions given by veal, which looked at leisure in terms of free time and leisure in terms of activities people do during their free time. The definition given by Veal is broader in that it classifies activities in terms of their qualification as leisure activities, something that the definition given by Focus (2009, 20) fails to do. Relationship between Culture and Leisure The definitions given above of culture and leisure all relate to activities in society. Thus, the first relationship between the two terms is that they both relate to some form of activity that people in a society engage in. According to Robert (2015, 1), leisure forms a central part of the society and is intertwined within several facets of daily life. It affects social cohesion while enhancing the physical and mental well-being of the individual yet improves the quality of life of individuals and societies. Therefore, leisure is a continuation of culture. It is a form of cultural practice that people engage in when they are not committed to other daily responsibilities. Robert (2015, 1) states that the many researchers have conducted research on how well-being is related to leisure in society. When talking of well-being, what comes to mind is the overall sense of the word. According to Robert (2015, 1), the word can be defined in more than one way to produce a rich, encompassing meaning. Well-being is often associated with related concepts like satisfaction, happiness, and health. These concepts are also related to culture in large part. A definition given by Diener (1984, 542-575) describes well-being in a very broad way to encompass mental, social, and psychological elements within the broader context of various life domains. As described earlier in the definition of culture, it is a social aspect of life, which makes the social element of life be an aspect of the relationship between leisure and culture (Carden and Courtemanche, 2009, 450-461). Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing Activities of leisure and culture are presumed similar with regard to the free time that allows people to engage in them and their contribution to the well-being of the participants. Cultural assets and activities people partake in, both leisurely and culturally contribute to the well-being of participants according to Morgan (2011). The conceptualization of culture and leisure is defined by four aspects, including participation in recreation, arts, cultural activities, and leisure; perceptions associated with leisure; experiencing leisure and culture as a state of mind; and the opportunities available that support culture and leisure. Over the years, these four aspects have been determined the best way of conceptualizing, recognizing, measuring, and understanding culture and leisure in their multifaceted forms for the exploration of how the two relate to well-being in the society. Morgan (2011) insists that wellbeing is not all about being well physically, but rather takes on a holistic approach to cover the spiritual, social and emotion well-being of not just the individual but the community as a whole (Aman, Fauzee, and Mohamed, 2007, 129-135; Haworth and Veal, 2004, n.d). According to Morgan (2011, 15), the belief that leisure and culture have some importance in the lives of people emerged recently. Leisure was traditionally viewed as being antithetical to labour, but that line of thinking has changed, and leisure and culture are currently viewed as the domains within which good life can be achieved. The overall wellbeing and quality of life is contributed to by the large range of activities classified under leisure and culture. A better understanding of the contributions of this domain to wellbeing can be achieved by conceptualizing recreation, culture, and arts within the broader concept of leisure. If the three facets of leisure are treated separately, they inevitably result in an intersection within the concept of leisure and how each of them contributes to wellbeing (Bramham, 2013, 193; Canadian Index of Wellbeing, 2010, n.d). According to Morgan (2011, 15), this form of conceptualization gives clarity to the way culture is regarded and defined within the domain of leisure. Culture in the context of leisure is solely linked to the creative and artistic expression and how these expressions give a reflection of the tastes, customs, and intellectual and artistic achievements in society. This is done without regard to whether they are part of popular, high, dominant or subculture. Therefore, in some respect, according to Morgan (2011, 15), culture is a sum of all artistic expressions and defines the heritage of a population. This definition leans more on the perception of culture in terms of products and performances as opposed to the definition of culture per se (Veal, 2001, 359-376). As stated earlier, culture is defined in terms of free time, the state of mind, and activities. The intersection of the three aspects or definitions of culture gives rise to a richer and deeper definition and understanding of leisure and its contribution to well-being. The most common way leisure is viewed is in the form of participation in recreational activities, which covers the definition based on activities. When one is engaged in some form of cultural leisure time, they are assumed to be involved in an activity that can be placed in one of the many categories available. These categories include holiday travel, outdoor recreation, media consumption, sports, performing arts, games, fine arts, and exercise among others. These activities are categorized as arts and culture, but fall under leisure. This kind of classification of activities captures their essential character and their individual contribution to wellbeing (Veal, 2001, 359-376, Morgan, 2011, 16; Gawlik et al. 1986, 38-45). Definition of leisure as free time is intended to avoid the hardships associated with trying to identify and classify all kinds of activity presumed to be recreational, artistic, or cultural. This allows for the emphasis of the freeness of time and individual from work related responsibilities. Activities that people engage in during this time say a lot about their cultural practices (Morgan, 2011, 16-17). Leisure and Culture Trends One characteristic of culture according to Haworth and Lewis (2005) is that culture is something acquired and passed down from one generation to another. However, it does not imply that all aspects of culture are preserved forever. Some knowledge is lost while new knowledge is added to existing cultures. Therefore, according to them, culture is a dynamic phenomenon that changes with time, experience, and other aspects of life. Culture regarded as popular today may not be very popular in a year. In the same manner culture changes over time, leisure also changes. The two domains seem similar in this respect with the minor culture domain influencing the large domain of leisure. Culture changes at the local level all the way to the global level. The various forms of culture influence each other in either direction. That means that a subculture can influence a popular culture and vice versa. Aspects of popular culture may cross over into a subculture while a subculture may become known on a global scale to form a global culture. According to Browne (2008, 31-35), western culture has developed beyond its traditional boundaries in the western countries to become a global culture. The spread and adoption of Western culture on a worldwide scale is highly assisted by the phenomena of globalization and the global economy. International corporations bring with them foreign cultures into places they are established resulting in the spread of cultures. Conclusion In conclusion, culture and leisure are two domains that go hand in hand. They support the growth of each other through their relationship. Culture is the wide range of aspects forming the life of people in society while leisure takes on three definitions based on time, activities, and state of the mind. The three definitions give leisure a deeper definition and understanding while creating a link between leisure and culture. From the discussion, culture comes under leisure as an activity that people engage in during their free time. Changes in culture ultimately change leisure activities that people engage in while changes in preference in leisure activities can also change cultural practices of a people. In this essay, I have looked at culture and leisure and the relationship between the two domains in terms of their contribution to the well-being of individuals and the community as a whole. References List Aman, M., Fauzee, M. and Mohamed, M., 2007. The Understanding of Meaning and Cultural Significance of Leisure, Recreation and Sport in Malaysia towards Capitalizing Human Resources. Journal of Global Business Management, 3(2), pp.129-135. Angelaki, V., and Britain, G., 2007. High Culture and/versus Popular Culture. Auger, D., Dawson, D., Gravelle, F., Ottawa G. K., Ottawa, J. P., and Zelatan. (1999). The Interest For And Participation In Cultural Leisure Activities: A Study Of Students Enrolled In Undergraduate Leisure Studies Courses. Retrieved 17/5/2016 from http://lin.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/CCLR9_58.pdf Bramham, P., 2013. CULTURE AND LEISURE. Routledge Handbook of Leisure Studies, p.193. Browne. 2008. Culture and Identity. Scribd. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from https://www.scribd.com/doc/170428669/Culture-and-Identity Canadian Index of Wellbeing. 2010. Leisure and Culture: A Report of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW). Carden, A. and Courtemanche, C., 2009. WAL‐MART, LEISURE, AND CULTURE. Contemporary Economic Policy, 27(4), pp.450-461. Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95(3), 542-575. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542 Focus, O.S., 2009. Measuring Leisure in OECD countries. Society at a Glance, pp.19-49. Gawlik, L., Filipcová, B., Matějů, P. and Gabal, I., 1986. Culture and leisure. In The way of life, leisure and cultural development. Papers presented at the international symposium in Czechoslovakia, 1985. Vol 1. (pp. 38-43). Institute for Philosophy and Sociology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. Haworth, J., and Lewis, S., 2005. Work, leisure and well-being. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 33(1), pp.67-79. Haworth, J.T. and Veal, A.J., 2004. Work and leisure. Psychology Press. Meeras, L., 2010. Leisure and recreation. Morgan, A., 2011. A Report Of The Canadian Index Of Wellbeing (CIW). Nios.ac.in. (n.d). Culture: An Introduction. Retrieved 17/5/2016 from http://www.nios.ac.in/media/documents/secichcour/english/ch.01.pdf Robert, S., 2015. Delving Deeper: The Relationship between Culture, Leisure, and Wellbeing. Socialreport.msd.govt.nz. (2010). Social Report: Leisure and Recreation. Retrieved 17/5/2016 from http://socialreport.msd.govt.nz/documents/leisure-recreation-social-report-2010.pdf Veal, A.J., 2001. Leisure, culture and lifestyle. Loisir et Société/Society and Leisure, 24(2), pp.359-376. Veal, A.J., 2004. Definitions of leisure and recreation. Zadka, P. (2008). Culture and Leisure Statistics Prepared by Pnina Zadka Retrieved 17/5/2016 from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/meetings/egm/NewYork_8-12Sep.2008/EGM%20Papers/Israel%20-%20Culture%20and%20Leisure.pdf Read More