Summary
Contents
`This book confirms David Harris' status as a leading theorist in contemporary culture and leisure in the UK. He offers a distinctive, coherent and authoritative guide to the major concepts and debates that should engage leisure scholars and scholarship' - Dr Peter Bramham, Senior Lecturer in Leisure Studies, Leeds Metropolitan UniversityWritten with the needs of today's student in mind, the SAGE Key Concepts series provides accessible, authoritative and reliable coverage of the essential issues in a range of disciplines. Written in each case by experienced and respected experts in the subject area, the books are indispensable study aids and guides to comprehension. Cross-referenced throughout, the format encourages understanding without sacrificing the level of detail and critical evaluation essential to convey the complexity of the issues.Key Concepts in Leisure Studies:• Provides a student-friendly guide to the key debates in leisure studies• Reflects recent developments in the field, encompassing related work in media studies, cultural studies, sports studies and sociology • Cross-references each 1500 word exposition to other concepts in the field• Offers definitions, section outlines and further reading guidance for independent learning• Is supported by the author's website http:/www.arasite.org/keyconc.html• Is essential reading for undergraduates and NVQ students in leisure studies.
Ecstasy
Ecstasy
The word ‘ecstasy’ is derived from the Greek ek-stasis, which is usually translated as ‘standing outside’ (of the self and of normal life). This pleasurable state can be induced in exciting social situations, especially leisure activities. Ecstasy is also the street name for a popular recreational drug which can induce this effect.
Section Outline:Sociological work on religious ecstasy. Rave and clubbing and their characteristic pleasures according to Thornton, Malbon and Redhead: social and chemical ecstasy. Different approaches to understanding rave: new forms of old pleasures or postmodern ‘disappearance’?
There are heightened personal experiences where normal understanding ceases to apply, and where some special relationship develops with others and with the world at large. Such relationships are described as being particularly meaningful, insightful, and fulfilling, while one ...
