Conceptualising Cultural EnvironmentsLecture Two: the socio-historic development of cultural consumption

Pre Industrial RevolutionPrior 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

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

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

Values and Social ChangeThe 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

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

Changing Patterns of WorkThe 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

Consuming CultureRising disposable incomes

The commodification of culture

The tavern to the gin parlour

Music Halls

However, these were tightly controlled (introduction of licensing)

Consuming CultureThe 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’

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??