| CODE | YTH3304 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Youth and Leisure | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Youth and Community Studies | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit provides course participants with a theoretical and practical view of the concept of leisure. In view of the relationship that exists between young people's and adult's perception of leisure and in view of the fact that 'leisure activities' carry undertones of 'consumerism'and 'changing lifestyles', it is essential to consider the sociological, psychological and economical aspects of the significance of leisure in the lives of young people. Therefore, course participants are required to engage in a thorough review of literature on the subject and to compare research findings - giving importance to the local context. More specifically, the unit is intended to examine how leisure is an expression of meaning and agency among different people and which often reflects prevailing social inequalities. It will also examine how young people’s leisure time is a reflection of personal and societal development, and how leisure trends are related to broader processes in contemporary societies, including globalisation, privatisation and ‘commodification’. The roles and responsibilities of youth workers, PSD teachers and other educators shall also be considered within this conceptual framework. Study-unit Aims This unit is aimed at: (a) introducing participants to the sociological understanding of the domain of youth and leisure; (b) assisting participants to reflect upon a number of contemporary issues that converge on the world of youth and leisure through a critically-informed orientation; (c) introducing participants to the salient concepts that inform contemporary sociological theory and to build basic familiarisation with the expert literature on the subject; and, (d) assisting participants to building a deeper appreciation of the rich diversity of forms that youth work may take in contemporary society. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) identify contemporary youth leisure trends in Malta and abroad; (b) comprehend and apply basic sociological concepts that inform the area; (c) recognise the crucial role of youth work within the leisure sector; (d) understand how contemporary youth leisure trends are related to wider, macro social processes; (e) adopt a radical view on the encroachment of public leisure spaces by private interests; and, (f) demonstrate an understanding of the importance of virtually-mediated space in the production and consumption of contemporary leisure practices. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) critically engage with the related subject matter; (b) construct and apply sociological theorems on the domain of youth and leisure; (c) reflect upon personal experiences in the field through the gloss of sociological theories on youth and leisure; and, (d) distinguish between common sense and popularistic notions on youth leisure and the sociological and cultural studies perspectives that are central to the academic treatise of the subject matter. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings (availability at the Library or otherwise is indicated against each entry) Azzopardi, A. E. 2000. European Youth Trends 2000 - Vulnerable Youth:Perspectives on vulnerability in education, employment and leisure in Europe. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing. [available] Borg, S., & M.Clark. 2007. Leisure & Young Married Women in Malta. Journal of World Anthropology./ Vol 3 (1): 74-96. [available] http://wings.buffalo.edu/faculty/research/anthrogis/JWA/V3N1/Borg_Clark-art.pdf Bull, C., Hoose, J. & M. Weed. 2002. Introduction to Leisure Studies. New York: Prentice Hall. [available] Cushman, G., A.J. Veal & J.Zuzanek 2005. (eds.) Free Time and Leisure Participation : International Perspectives. Wallingford, Oxon., UK: CAB International. [available] Harris, D. 2005. Key Concepts in Leisure Studies. London: Sage. [available] Olszewska, A ., & K. Roberts (eds.). 1990. Leisure and Lifestyle: A Comparative Analysis of Free time: London: Sage. [available] Osgerby, B. 2001. Playboys in Paradise: Masculinity, Youth and Leisure Style in Modern America. Oxford: Berg. [unavailable] Roberts, K. 1999. Leisure in Contemporary Society, New York: CABI Publ. [available] Shivers, J.S., & L.J. deLisle. 1997. The Story of Leisure : Context, Concepts, and Current Controversy. Champaign: Human Kinetics Press. [available] Stokowski, P.A. 1995. Leisure in Society - A Network Structural Perspective. London: Mansell Publ. Ltd. [available] Veblen, T. (2005). The Theory of the Leisure Class. OXford: Oxford University Press. [available] |
||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||||||
| LECTURER/S | Joanne Cassar Carmen Mangion |
||||||||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||||||||