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.
Narratives
Narratives
A narrative is a particular sequence of signs (words, images or any other kind) designed to convey meaning – to tell a story, for example. Defining signs as broadly as this enables us to examine the narratives of films and texts, but also of theme parks and exhibitions. Narratives have certain characteristics that enable them to be recognized, connected and predicted, and this is a major source of pleasure for the reader.
Section Outline:Typical narrative structures in myth, folk tales, cinema and Disney theme parks. Realist narratives and dominant values: ideology, marxist and feminist critique. Breaking with conventional narratives in avant-garde film and fiction: destroying the authorial voice. Postmodernism and the collapse of narrative: electronic games and children's television. Harmful effects on child development.
In the ...
