Cultural Environments Lecture Three Theorising Cultural Consumption Understanding Cultural Consumption We consume cultural products and services for a variety of different reasons Our cultural consumption helps us to create a sense of identity both for ourselves and other people ID: 468107
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Slide1
Conceptualising Cultural Environments
Lecture Three:
Theorising
Cultural ConsumptionSlide2
Understanding Cultural Consumption
We consume cultural products and services for a variety of different reasons
Our cultural consumption helps us to create a sense of identity both for ourselves and other people
Essentially, we can understand who we are and who are people are by examining cultural consumption
As such, cultural consumption is concerned with the production and circulation of symbolic meaningSlide3Slide4
Understanding Cultural Consumption
In order to interpret cultural consumption we first need to understand what we actually mean by the term consumption
Consumption refers to “the selection, purchase, use, maintenance, repair and disposal of any product or service” (Campbell, 1995:102)
Consumerism is “concerned with the hidden properties of consumption, and in particular, the ideological dimensions of consumer society” (Miles, 2001:60)Slide5
Defining ‘Leisure’ Time
As we have discussed previously cultural consumption is generally something that we do in our leisure time but we need to think about what we actually mean by this
We tend to think of leisure time as our free time but there are many things which may influence and impact upon this
Bull,
Hoose
and Weed (2003) suggest that there are four main ways in which we can examine and understand what we mean by leisure timeSlide6
Time Based Approaches
It is often suggested that leisure time is time left over after work (demarcation of work and leisure)
But is it really as simple as this?
This definition fails to take into account time for necessary activities such as sleeping, eating, washing,
etc
As such, sociologists prefer to define leisure time as the time that remains once all obligations have been fulfilled and the individual can make a choice about how they spend their timeSlide7
Critiquing Time Based Approaches
Based upon industrial understanding of the work/leisure relationship
Fails to take into account those not in full time employment
Unemployed
Retired
Stay at home mums/
dads
Assumes that the relationship between work and leisure is black and white
Overtime
‘Social activities
’
What about when leisure becomes an obligation?Slide8
Activity Based Approaches
Linked to the perception of leisure as time but the emphasis lies with the nature of the activity pursued
Here, we see leisure as an activity that is not required as a daily necessity but is pursued out of choice and lies
outwith
work, family or social duties
But, focusing on ‘activities’ may limit our understanding of how and why people in engage in leisure
It fails to take into account pastimes which may not be deemed as ‘activities’
Can be biased towards active and institutionalised leisure
What about deviant forms of leisure?Slide9
Attitude Based Approaches
In this instance we view leisure as a state of mind or being
Usually informed by the motive of the individual and what they define as their leisure
Everyone will experience leisure differently
This is particularly important to take into account in the events industry
A persons definition of leisure may change – one day it might be a chore, the next a great leisure experienceSlide10
Quality Based Approaches
Whether or not somebody views an activity as leisure will depend upon the quality of the experience
Leisure is seen to be earned as a reward from work
But for some it may just be a time filler
Leisure may be used as an escape from work
May help fulfill needs that are not met via work
Leisure as
free
time??Slide11
Freedom v Control
Are we free to do what we like in our leisure time?
There are various things that restrict us:
Money
Access
Knowledge/skill
Legality
Society also places restrictions on us in terms of what is viewed to be acceptable and what is not viewed as acceptable
Norms of
behaviour
As consumers we may be influenced my marketing, branding and subliminal messages
More of this in the coming weeks!