Conceptualising Cultural Environments

1. Conceptualising Cultural Environments Lecture Two: the socio-historic development of cultural consumption

2. Pre Industrial Revolution Prior to the industrial revolution most people were employed in agriculture They lived in small settlements and towns In 1700 London had a population of 600,000 compared to 7.5 million today Recreation and play figured prominently in people’s lives But work and play were intermingled

3. Work and Leisure • Many festivities were based around key agricultural events • Hard work counterbalanced by drinking and revelry • The Tavern • Comforts not present at home • Brothels, gambling and blood sports • Travelling Fairs • Animal sports • The carnivalesque • Wakes • Celebration of saints days • Holiday derives from holy day

4. The Industrial Revolution • The late 18th – early 19th century saw the change from an agrarian based society to an industrial based society • Significant social, economic and political impacts • The nature of work • The growth of the factory • Required large labour force • Development of towns and large settlements • This separated people from the countryside and many of their leisure pursuits • Poor conditions and environment • Monotonous jobs and tasks (McDonaldisation!) • Changes to work regimes caused the separation of work and leisure

5. Values and Social Change The creation of the class system and growth of the middle class Fear of the working class and need for people to be fit for work Protestant work ethic – work was a virtue which provided rewards Reduction in the number of saint’s days Banning of rowdy leisure activities – fear of riotous behaviour and revolution

6. The Rational Recreation Movement Was concerned with replacing uncivilised forms of leisure with more acceptable ones But also a process of social control Replacing working class values with middle class values Replacing ephemeral pleasure and entertainment with knowledge, self improvement and health and fitness Growth of formalised sport, outdoor pursuits and countryside recreation Museums, libraries and parks

7. Changing Patterns of Work • The mid 19th century saw the recognition of the importance of leisure time • Saturday afternoons as time free from work • Development of football and other sports • Formal holidays • Going ‘doon the watter’ • Invention of the package trip

8. Consuming Culture Rising disposable incomes The commodification of culture The tavern to the gin parlour Music Halls However, these were tightly controlled (introduction of licensing)

9. Consuming Culture The late 1950s and early 1960s saw considerable growth in the consumer society Growth in the economy saw a growth in disposable income Rise in the number of consumer goods and products available Conspicuous consumption Changes in culture and values – development of ‘youth’

10. The Experience Economy It is suggested by Pine and Gilmore (1999) that we now live in an experience economy The symbolic value of what we do in our leisure time is increasingly important Our leisure choices say a lot about who we are both to ourselves and other people We consume symbolic meaning – this is more important than the actual good/product/service But, are we really as free as we think we are to consume what we want in the way we want??