The Meaning and Purpose of Leisure : Habermas and Leisure at the End of Modernity

This book uses the work of Jurgen Habermas to interrogate leisure as a meaningful, theoretical concept. Drawing on examples from sport, culture and tourism, and going beyond concerns about the grand project of leisure, Spracklen argues that leisure is central to understanding wider debates about identity, postmodernity and globalization. This book is a crucial contribution to the debate about the meaning and purpose of leisure at the end of modernity. Karl Spracklen uses Jurgen Habermas's work on the tension of rationalities to situate leisure and critical studies of leisure as meaningful and valuable in the twenty-first century. In particular, Spracklen uses Habermas' concerns between free, communicative discourse and globalizing, commodifying instrumentality to interrogate leisure as a critical, theoretical concept. Drawing on examples from sport, popular culture and tourism, and going beyond concerns about the grand project of leisure, Spracklen argues that leisure is central to understanding wider debates about identity, postmodernity and globalization This Book Is A Crucial Contribution To The Debate About The Meaning And Purpose Of Leisure At The End Of Modernity. Karl Spracklen Uses Jurgen Habermas's Work On The Tension Of Rationalities To Situate Leisure And Critical Studies Of Leisure As Meaningful And Valuable In The Twenty-first Century. In Particular, Spracklen Uses Habermas' Concerns Between Free, Communicative Discourse And Globalizing, Commodifying Instrumentality To Interrogate Leisure As A Critical, Theoretical Concept. Drawing On Examples From Sport, Popular Culture And Tourism, And Going Beyond Concerns About The Grand Project Of Leisure, Spracklen Argues That Leisure Is Central To Understanding Wider Debates About Identity, Postmodernity And Globalization.--publisher's Website. Theory. The Paradox Of Leisure -- Habermas And Communicative And Instrumental Rationality -- Habermas, Globalization And Postmodernity -- Reading Habermas On Leisure -- Research. Applying Habermas To Sport -- Applying Habermas To Culture -- Applying Habermas To Tourism -- Conclusions. Karl Spracklen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 160-173) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-7 Front Matter....Pages 9-9 The Paradox of Leisure....Pages 11-30 Habermas and Communicative and Instrumental Rationality....Pages 31-51 Habermas, Globalization and Postmodernity....Pages 52-71 Reading Habermas on Leisure....Pages 72-90 Front Matter....Pages 91-91 Applying Habermas to Sport....Pages 93-114 Applying Habermas to Culture....Pages 115-137 Applying Habermas to Tourism....Pages 138-157 Conclusions....Pages 158-159 Back Matter....Pages 160-175