Decentring Leisure: Rethinking Leisure Theory

by Chris Rojek

This book explores the meaning of leisure in the context of key social formations of our time. Chris Rojek brings together the insights of Marxism, feminism, Weber, Elias, Simmel, Nietzsche and Baudrillard to produce a survey - and rethinking - of leisure theory. At the same time he presents a radical critique of the traditional `centring′ of leisure, on `escape′, `freedom′ and `choice′. He describes the relations between capitalism and leisure, the meaning of free time for workers in a capitalist system, and the gendered nature of leisure. He then discusses the social construction of leisure under modernity and the main competing arguments. Finally he examines postmodernity. Revealing how leisure practices have responded t

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Chris Rojek is Professor of Sociology and Culture at Nottingham Trent University, UK.
In 2003 he was awarded the Allen V. Sapora Award for outstanding achievement in the field of Leisure Studies.

Reviews

[Roy Kenagy]

RK SOCIAL SCIENCE

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neatly dividing the West in capitalist, modern (1 & 2) and postmodern periods, always presenting a variety of angles and doctrines, never taking anyone's side, Rojek's work tackles the issue of leisure in a society becoming uncreasingly uncertain about its definition and its usefulness.