The dichotomy of politics and leisure is a type of relationship the importance of which cannot be underestimated. These two spheres influence each other in a significant way in order to construct the ideal system of controlled and, at the same time, free society. There is no unique and universal definition nor for the term “politics,” nor – for the “leisure.” Philosophers, sociologists, psychologists, and ordinary people might have absolutely different or even opposite opinions about these expressions. For example, one can consider leisure time as a free slot of the day without work and everyday routine; and the other may think of the organized event with a family or friends. Politics might also be interpreted in several ways: the government, the source of control, or the existing regime in the country. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overall description of both terms according to various concepts and to analyze the specificity of the relationship and interference between leisure and politics in Australia.
Despite the fact that leisure can be defined in various ways, it is possible to assume that this word is usually used in a positive connotation. In the mass consciousness, it is associated with a pleasant time and freedom. However, Wilson (2019) maintains that this term, in general, means only a portion of the time. It might be the working hour, the situation of communication, or the process of driving the car. The author points out that the definition of leisure depends in a significant way on the quality of experience (Wilson, 2019). For example, if a person loves his or her job and is working on the project with pleasure and passion, then his or her time spent in the office would be considered as leisure time.
The researcher pays special attention to the question of the attitude of the person to the situation or activity. In this case, it is essential to mention that any activity, according to Wilson (2019), may be classified as leisure time. From the author’s point of view, the understanding of this term is individual for every human and depends on his or her perception of the situation (Wilson, 2019). Nevertheless, it is necessary to stress that there are several types of activities which are often considered as a sort of leisure time. In particular, Wilson (2019, p. 32) proposes examples of theme parks, cinemas, restaurants, libraries, or sports stadiums. Nonetheless, even those places do not guarantee having a pleasant free time.
It is important to take into consideration that there are staff members of these environments or parents who came only because of their children. For this type of people, the choice of activity does not mean enjoyably spending free time. In conclusion, the understanding of the term “leisure time” depends on the individual point of view and attitude of the person rather than on the type or the location of the activity.
The understanding of spare time became vaguer because of the commercialization of the world. The entertainment industry tries to sell not only the activity itself but also the perception of it as a party and the feeling of happiness (Wilson, 2019). In this situation, it is extremely hard to separate personal emotions and the image imposed by the departments of marketing and public relations. Commercialized entertainment plays a significant role in the substitution of the types of activities that were popular just a few decades ago. For example, playing football with friends or having a walk in the park were among the most common ways of spending free time at the end of the 20th century.
Nowadays, the situation has noticeably changed; taking Singapore as an example, it is possible to claim that very few people there have a simple on-foot walk around the fountains. Thousands of tourists use electro scooters or bicycles that can easily be rented in the city center. There might be several reasons for those changes: first of all, it is impossible not to admit the increase in the speed of life. People want to move faster and to see more sights in less time. Secondly, the brand of Singapore as a technological city makes humans want to get acquainted with all the inventions and try them. The entertainment industry has progressed seriously since the end of the last century. In modern circumstances, it is difficult to determine which activities are an essential part of one’s leisure time and which are just a marketing hook.
The relationship between leisure and politics becomes significantly noticeable when the questions of freedom and control are raised. Free time is often used as a synonym of leisure, but it is also possible to assume that the first phrase might be familiar with freedom. In this case, the term “politics” plays the role of an explanation of this phenomenon. Leisure time is free time and an enjoyable way to spend several hours or days, but it does not mean that it is non-obligated (Wilson, 2019). It is necessary to introduce the two meanings of the word “politics.” First of all, it is a source of control that makes citizens’ lives safe and comfortable by limiting the freedom of other people using the law. Secondly, this expression can also be interpreted as a mechanism of self-reflection (Wilson, 2019). A person that can establish the borders of his or her behavior for himself becomes the individual source of the authority.
The government can control the leisure time of the citizens by introducing special rules. In this situation, it is vital to raise the question of the variety of ways of spending spare hours depending on the political regime in the country. For example, in Australia, democracy provides the freedom of choice for leisure activities that do not cause any harm to other people (Stevens, McGrath and Ward, 2019, p. 306). However, in the totalitarian regimes, the problem is much more serious as the authorities prohibit some types of entertainment according to the political agenda (Wilson, 2019). For example, in North Korea, watching a Hollywood movie is a challenging task as the government does not allow it without explaining any reasons. In developed countries, the set of typical leisure activities is approximately the same. It is possible to suppose that it is caused not only by the geographical proximity and historical circumstances but also by the similar democratic regime.
It is necessary to point out that the government affects leisure time not only by introducing new rules or controlling people. In Australia, for example, the authorities create programs of educational type for children that help them spend their free hours with advantageous outcomes. Stevens, McGrath and Ward (2019, p. 307) describe the impact of art therapy on children and grown-ups in Australia; they highlight the positive health outcomes for the little participants and the improvement of their socialization skills. In this particular situation, the control of leisure time by the government is beneficial for everyone. What is more, this program’s attendance was not obligatory, making it the true leisure time where a child has a choice of what to do. This example is an illustration that the authority control can have both negative and positive connotations depending on its specific decisions and actions.
The mass perception of leisure time is influenced not only by the marketing strategies of the entertainment industry but also by the media. Magazines, newspapers, and online-sources represent a mechanism of shaping public opinion (McNair et al., 2017, p. 4). In this case, it is impossible not to describe the role of politics in forming the position of society about leisure time. On the one hand, the media help people get involved in politics – to vote, analyze the candidates’ biographies and make decisions concerning their lives. On the other hand, the sources of manipulation are extremely powerful and can dictate the required information to the ordinary reader. Nevertheless, the situation in Australia is favorable due to the role of the public agenda (McNair et al., 2017, p. 85). The level of consciousness and motivation of the citizens is so high that they write about the most important news and even take part in the drafting of the law. This example shows the necessity of collaboration between ordinary people and the government in order to organize the leisure time of humans in the comfortable, enjoyable, and, at the same time, safe and secure way.
In the analysis of the relationship between leisure activities and political control, it is crucial to pay attention to the issue of social justice. Long, Fletcher and Watson (2017) in their book Sport, leisure and social justice, propose the example of the sports industry as one of the most influential within the context of equality. Participation in all kinds of physical activities in any place should be free and available to everyone. Moreover, people of different nationalities, religions, and financial levels are supposed to have the same opportunities to practice the type of sport they choose (Long, Fletcher and Watson, 2017). Social justice in this sphere has to be controlled by the government. The authorities might introduce special educational programs or thematic competitions, where the importance of equal rights would be illustrated. The ensuring of conditions of social justice and equality in the sphere of entertainment in general, and in sport, in particular, is another emblematic case of the strong relationship between politics and leisure.
The relationship between politics and leisure plays a crucial role in establishing the lives of ordinary people. The actions of the government might have both positive and negative impacts. Among the examples of the first category is the creation of educational programs for children and the control of the safety of the citizens. The harmful effects are usually presented in the countries with the totalitarian regimes where the authorities limit the freedom of humans by the restriction of several types of leisure activities. In the 21st century, the industry of entertainment is highly commercialized; that is why spending spare time is often associated with visiting particular places like cinemas or theme parks. However, the understanding of leisure is individual and depends on the attitude of the person towards a specific situation. On a personal level, politics and leisure are also connected because of the necessity of self-control in order not to ruin the comfort of other people.
Reference List
Long, J., Fletcher, T. and Watson B. (2017) Sport, leisure and social justice. London: Taylor & Francis.
McNair, B. et al. (2017) Politics, media and democracy in Australia: public and producer perceptions of the political public sphere. London: Taylor & Francis.
Stevens, K., McGrath R. and Ward E. (2019) ‘Identifying the influence of leisure-based social circus on the health and well-being of young people in Australia’, Annals of Leisure Research, 22(3), pp. 305–322.
Wilson, J. (2019) Politics and leisure. New York: Routledge.