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.
Semiotics
Semiotics
This term refers to particular attempts to develop systematic theories of communication that examine the ways in which signs (anything that signifies) inter-relate. One controversy turns on the role of human consciousness in this activity. Semiotic approaches have led to attempts to analyse systematically the development of meaning in leisure texts (such as films or tourist brochures) and activities.
Section Outline:Examples of semiotic analysis: the James Bond novels and movies. Main concepts in (French) semiotic analysis: examples in fashion writing, films and photographs. Tourist brochures. (American) semiotics and the analysis of common shared understandings of shopping malls or theme parks. Construct theory as a practical research application.
I am going to begin with some examples of modern semiotic analysis (also known as semiology or structuralism) before turning ...