Module Indicative Content
This module will explore the cultural production and consumption of leisure in terms of a range of leisurescapes, including the carnival, fairs and wakes, pleasure gardens, expositions, resorts, amusement parks, theme parks, heritage sites, the countryside, the home, cyber and shopping spaces. The module will trace and document the origins and development of these sites in order to contextualise them within their broader historical, social and cultural contexts, as parts of and emergent and developing leisure industry. It will situate them in relation to theories of leisure and leisure space and in relation to processes such as globalisation, commercialisation, commodification, rationalisation and privatisation. As well as an exploration of these sites generally, a focus will be given to specific examples such as the Potteries Wakes, Vauxhall and Tivoli Pleasure Gardens; the 1851 Great Exhibition; Coney Island's amusement parks; the Disney theme parks; Alton Towers; the Mall of America and the internet. Looking at biographical examples such as these helps students to see how prime source accounts and specific ethnographies may be used to assist in an understanding of such places. This in turn may help students to understand the role and importance of field research. These examples are of local as well as national and international sites in order to enable students to experience such sites at first hand as a basis for their own work as well as to foster an exploration of the relationship between the local and the global.
Module Additional Assessment Details
Learning Diary (40%) 2,000words to test LO: 1, 3, 5, 6
Students will keep a week by week learning diary, based on topics covered, reading, and their own critical, reflective understanding. In linking to intermediate level outcomes 1,3,5,6, students will be particularly encouraged to apply ongoing focused understanding of theory and process to a range of particular contexts, and also to reflect critically upon their own development. For students who have done Leisurescapes: Forms and Practices at level one, many of the issues and themes will be linked from previous learning diary, but the level of engagement will be appropriately raised. (as above).
Essay (40%) 2,000words to test LO: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Students negotiate their own topic for coursework essay, based on guidelines and the help of their tutor. Normally the essay topic area will be related to the presentation topic.
Individual Presentation (20%) (10minutes approx.) to test LO: 1, 2, 4, 5
Students will negotiate their own topic for presentation based guidelines and with help of the tutor
Module Learning Strategies
The module will comprise:
12 x 2 hour workshop sessions plus 12 x 1 hour seminar session.
These will combine a number and mix of learning strategies, where appropriate, including, lectures, screenings and discussion.
The students will be guided in their 'independent learning', through the development of strategies for self-management and self study. This guidance will be built into seminar sessions, in particular, but will also be achieved through personal tutorials and via the PDP. Independent Learning should comprise, guided reading, guided screenings and engagement with study packs (provided by tutors). Also, study groups will be set up and students encouraged to participate.
Module Resources
Audio Visual DVD player, TV, Blackboard.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.
Module Texts
Borsey, P (2006) A History of Leisure: The British Experience since 1500, Palgrave
Cunningham, H. (1980) Leisure in the Industrial Revolution, Croom Helm
Crouch, D. (ed) (2005) The Media and the Tourist Imagination, Routledge
Edensor T (ed) (2000) Reinventing Stoke: Popular Culture in the Potteries, Staffs Uni Press
Kasson, J.F. (1978) Amusing the Millions Hill and Wang
Rojek C. (1995) Decentring Leisure, Sage
Wolf, M.J. (1999) The Entertainment Economy, Times Books