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.
Disneyfication
Disneyfication
Characteristic forms of organization involved in running a global leisure business have been developed by the Disney Company, and these have been much imitated and applied by other leisure businesses. This can be seen as convertingcultural capitalto economic capital. This entry focuses on attempts to understand how history, culture and consumerism are developed by the Company.
Section Outline:Academic criticisms of the Disney Company and its operations, based on marxist, feminist and postmodernist positions: commercialism and big business; history and tradition; America and international relations. Specific criticisms of the ideological elements in theme parks (with some brief examples of the movies). Comparisons with ‘normal’ visitor reactions. Academic criticism as elite pleasure.
The academic work analysing the appeal of Disney sites is almost entirely critical. This can be ...
