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.
Figurationalism
Figurationalism
This term describes a general theoretical approach associated with Elias, Dunnning and Mennell (for our purposes) and their associates (many based at Leicester University in the UK). The approach has generated a number of fruitful concepts including ‘figuration’ and ‘the civilization process’, and discussions of group formation. A particular interest has always taken in understanding sport and leisure, the specific historical processes involved in their development and their emotional qualities.
Section Outline:Figurations and their characteristics: implications for theory. Politics and a football match as examples of figurations. Tension balances and the process of civilization. Football hooliganism. The modern diet. Problems and debates: complexity, selectivity and the difficulties of detachment.
A figuration, which is what figurationalism studies is, is a kind of virtual social group which takes ...
