Bertram Charles Binning's depiction of British Columbia coastal scenes in his drawings and paintings of the mid 1940s to the early 1950s present images of sunlit seascapes in recreational settings; they are scenes of leisure and pleasure. The concern for leisure and pleasure was central to the artist's modernism, even after he began painting in a semi-abstract manner around 1948. In this particular construction of modernism, Binning offered pleasure as an antidote to some of the anxieties he observed in postwar culture. Binning also thought that art could contribute to life in a direct way. In the mid to late 1940s, Vancouver saw a series of artistic community projects which explored the possibility of art as a social force; the Art in Living Group, of which Binning was a member, believed that art could have a therapeutic value in relation to housing projects and community planning. In certain ways, the Art in Living Group was a response to rapid changes in the social matrix of Vancouver. Binning's personal artistic practice, however, appears to have existed outside of what was embraced in his participation in those community projects. His essentially personal, self-authenticating expression in the form of drawings may be seen to resist the idealism of his more 'public' production, that is, his own idealism, his demand for an art thoroughly harmonized with the public sphere. Moreover, in this more personal body of work, his choice of leisurely scenes, rendered in a style reminiscent of Matisse, can be seen as far removed from the urban tensions of the time. It also seems to suggest that the leisure-and-pleasure idealism which finds expression in these works was not only class-and gender- specific, but also antithetical to his strong desire to democratize art. Binning's preoccupation with personal expression took a turn when he shifted his concern from representational drawings to semi-abstract paintings. The shift coincided with his career move to the University of British Columbia as a professor of Art History in 1949. From then on, Binning's interest in regional cosmopolitanism became more pronounced in his work. In this sense, it is significant that Binning looked for guidance to Herbert Read's ideas about modern art and art education. At the same time, his reputation expanded beyond the West Coast. In 1954, Binning was chosen to represent Canada at the Venice Biennale. Binning's particular modernism, as represented by this range of work, all of which presents a pastoral version of Utopia , was in some ways profoundly at odds with the social circumstances of the time. Why was the interest in leisure and pleasure significant to his practice? What did it mean to promote this kind of idealism in the local context? And in what ways did it relate to the international art scene — for example, to the work of Matisse or to contemporary concepts of art? My thesis addresses these questions by situating Binning's work both regionally and internationally.

Over the past decade, Persian Gulf countries witnessed an increase in tourism development and the number of international tourists. Though tourism development plays an important role in enhancing economies, tourism development may conflict with the region's conservative traditions and culture. The purpose of this research is to identify the attitudes and perceptions of residents in the State of Qatar towards the impacts of tourism development by: 1) applying Ap & Crompton's (1998) Index of Tourism Impacts (ITI): measuring the physical/ecological/social or cultural environments, and the residents' acceptance of visitors, 2) by identifying resident attitudes as expressed on Qatari-based social networks, and 3) through personal observation of resident attitudes. Respondents were selected using a convenience sampling technique to complete a survey instrument. Non-intrusive personal observation was also carried out to observe the nature of host-guest interactions at local tourist areas. Material regarding resident attitudes towards tourism development published through local media and forums on local social networks were collected. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and independent t-tests were used to describe data and to better understand resident attitudes towards the ITI dimensions. Content analysis was used to analyze forum entries, and field note extracts of personal observations were also used to present observed behaviours of residents. Survey findings reveal that resident attitudes differed according to respondents' age, length of residence, and ethnicity, particularly with respect to perceptions of change in local services and natural environment. The content analysis of forums revealed mixed feelings by residents (primary expatriates) towards tourism development. An attitude typology was derived from resident attitudes expressed through forum entries. Attitudes ranged from “denying tourism's existence” to “encouraging tourism”. Field observation of behaviours also revealed mixed attitudes towards the presence and behaviours of tourists, where residents either “accepted tourism” or “disapproved tourism”. Results suggested further research be carried out in testing the attitude typology in countries within the same region, and to modify the belief scale items and dimensions.

While it is well understood that many resource-based communities are transitioning to tourism to provide a new economic foundation, few studies have probed in-depth the rationale and mechanisms influencing decision-making processes. This case study does that, providing the rationale behind Nanaimo’s City Council’s decision to build a conference centre and in so doing exposes the processes, actors and events that helped framed its decision. A coastal community in British Columbia, Canada, Nanaimo’s downtown suffered continual decline for nearly two decades. In an attempt to reverse the decline, City Council voted 8 to 1 in favour of a conference centre proposal based on its conviction that a centre would serve as a calling card for the community and function to attract both lifestyle residents and tourists. Moreover, Council’s vote signalled its commitment as an active partner in re-establishing the downtown and repositioning Nanaimo as a post-industrial city with high-level infrastructure and amenities. Although there was initial widespread community support, as the conference centre evolved through a series of iterations, one community group surfaced to challenge its merit and the lack of public engagement in the process. In response, another group surfaced to defend the decision. Through a community referendum, the decision was upheld and the community moved forward with the plan. Nonetheless, the viability of the project was threatened a second time with the civic election as several community residents who resisted the project ran for City Council on a platform that would have halted the project. The community, once again, affirmed the decision to proceed. This case has two steps. First, I present a descriptive analysis to illuminate how the community’s social networks played a role in moving a specific agenda forward. There were two phases of data collection from which data were compiled and analysed. The first phase of data collection examined a variety of written documents in the community and principally included minutes of the various City Committees, independent studies commissioned by the City, newspaper accounts, and sources of information provided by the participants. The information collected in this first phase of study helped to inform the 37 in-depth interviews collected in the second phase of the study. Critical discourse analysis was used to demonstrate how and why different groups in the community justified and rationalized an ideological stance supporting a political and economic framework underwritten by tourism. Overall, the strength of the case is in its details. In demonstrating how the social networks and the local coalitions’ capacity-building efforts shaped civic decision-making and public policy, one gains, in a Foucauldian sense, how governmentality played out as different groups engaged in resistant and counter-resistance mechanisms. Tracing these movements reveals how this community was conditioned towards an economic framework underwritten by a political economy of tourism. Moreover, this case demonstrates that although consideration should be given to the broader economic and political climate, it supports claims in the literature that a high degree of autonomy exists within community decision-making processes. Complementing this consideration is the need to theorize more carefully the role of democracy and governance in determining the satisfaction of outcomes. Finally, more consideration should be given by tourism scholars to be more reflexive about their research, its contested and emotive moments.

Sexual minorities experience more stress than the general population, which contributes to negative mental and physical health outcomes. This minority stress is a result living and working in social environments that do not accept homosexuality. In an attempt to avoid stressful situations, some sexual minorities try to conceal their sexual identity to various degrees in their everyday lives; however, this behaviour causes additional distress and becomes an even greater barrier to one’s well-being. One way to manage this stress is to participate in recreational activities in the company of other sexual minorities. In this way, leisure travel can be used as a coping mechanism for minority stress. The findings of this study bridge a gap between research on travel motivation, concealable stigma and stress coping. The aim of this study is not simply to list the travel motivations (such as escape, relaxation and socializing), but rather to uncover the meanings behind these motivations.

High quality organization of students’ leisure time and their motivated participation is a relevant issue for teachers in Lithuania, as well as in other countries. The importance of students’ leisure time activities in such a complicated social context is without doubt very important. The aim of this graduation paper is to reveal the presumptions of students’ free time organization. The tasks of this graduation paper are to analyse the tendencies of students’ leisure activities and the principles of extra-curriculum education, to reveal social factors having influence upon students’ free time, to study the problems of organization of students’ free time and occupation, to prepare the recommendations for the organization of students leisure time in secondary schools. Analysis of the presumptions of students’ free-time policy and leisure time problems has been done. Using the methods of descriptive analysis and quantitative assessment, questionnaire research on students’ free time organization in Biržai region has been carried out. The results of the research confirmed the presumption that insufficient supply of students���� leisure time does not ensure the quality of positive socializing. The results of the research also revealed the main problems of organizing free-time activities at schools which include insufficient financial support, organizational difficulties, the absence of proper microclimate, poor students’ activity, devaluation of traditions and spiritual values... [to full text]

With a particular interest in birdwatchers and dog walkers, this case study explored place meanings of users at Westmount Summit Woods, a multiple-use urban forest located just west of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A document analysis was conducted on the research site, followed by data collected through online questionnaire. A total of 120 users participated in the online questionnaire, of which included birdwatchers (n=44), dog walkers (n=61), and the broader community (n=15). Three themes relating to place meaning were interpreted: (1) Attachment to and Preference for; (2) (Re)connection with Self and Others; and (3) Conflict Between and Within. Findings suggest encounters played key roles in the formation of social identity, capital, and conflict. Questions regarding access to and use of public space, how humans and animals are placed vis-à-vis one another, and ways to build civic culture out of difference were addressed. Following on from these findings, recommendations for outdoor recreation management and future research were offered.

Svarbią paauglio gyvenimo dalį sudaro laisvalaikis, kurio metu vyksta aktyvus socialinės komunikacijos procesas. Todėl kalbant apie veiksnius, darančius įtaką paauglio psichosocialinei raidai, svarbus tampa laisvalaikio pasirinkimas. Labai svarbu pažinti paauglių laisvalaikio praleidimo būdus ir jų moralines vertybes. Vienas didžiausių bendro nusikalstamumo variklių šiandien yra vaikų ir paauglių neužimtumas. Sėkmingai išsprendus paauglių užimtumo problemą bei tikslingai organizuojant jų laisvalaikį, galima tikėtis teigiamų pokyčių šiose abiejose srityse. Magistro baigiamąjį darbą sudaro teorinė, metodinė ir praktinė dalys, darbo pabaigoje pateikiamos išvados. Pirmoje darbo dalyje analizuojama lietuvių ir užsienio autorių literatūra paauglių laisvalaikio organizavimo ir vertybinių orientacijų formavimosi tematika. Pateikiama laisvalaikio sampratų istorinė kaita, analizuojama šiuolaikinė laisvalaikio samprata, formos, funkcijos. Taip pat apžvelgiama laisvalaikio reikšmė paauglių vertybinių orientacijų ugdyme. Analizuojami veiksniai, įtakojantys paauglių vertybinių orientacijų formavimąsi: šeima, mokykla, žiniasklaida. Pateikiami laisvalaikio organizavimo edukologiniu aspektu pagrindai: apžvelgiama papildomo ugdymo reikšmė, funkcijos, formos, principai bei neformalaus ugdymo organizavimo principai. Antroje darbo dalyje pateikiama tyrimo metodika ir organizavimas. Trečioje darbo dalyje atliekamas tyrimas, kurio tikslas - ištirti 7–10 klasių moksleivių popamokinę veiklą... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Leisure takes quite important place in teenages life, when the process of active social communication is going on. So when we are talking about the factors which affect psychological development of the teenages, the choice of leisure types becomes very important. It is very important to find out the types of teenages leisure activities also their moral values. The most powerfull engine of nowadays criminality - is vacancy of the kids and teenages. We could expect positive changes in both these areas if we would solve the problem of teenages employment and organize the leisure time specifically. This Master‘s final work consists of theoretical, methodical and practical parts, the findings are presented in the end of this work A literature of Lithuanian and foreign authors which describes the organization of teenages leisure and formation of teenages values orientations is analyzed in the first part of the work. There are presented historical change of leisure conceptions, the analysis of the contemporary conception of leisure, forms and fuctions of the leisure. We also take a look at the meaning of leisure time in education of formation of teenages values orientations. There is made analysis of the factors which affects the formation of teenages values orientations: family, school, mass media. There are given the basics for organization of the leisure in educology aspect: there are presented the meaning of additional education, functions, forms, principles and the principles... [to full text]

1918–1940 m. alytiškių laiko leidimo būdai ir pramogos turėjo savų ypatumų. Galima teigti, jog netgi susiklostė savotiškos laisvalaikio leidimo tradicijos. Greta to pramogos ir laisvalaikis šiame tyrime yra specifinis žiūros kampas, per kurį galima naujai pamatyti laikmečio visuomenės kultūrą, gyvenseną, estetinius, meninius ir istorinius procesus. Lokalios kultūros tyrimas padeda išgryninti dar nepastebėtas laikmečio charakteristikas. Atlikus tyrimą paaiškėjo, kad Alytuje organizuotos pramogos ir laisvalaikis socialiniame miestelėnų gyvenime vien jau per renginius reiškėsi labai įvairiai ir plačiai. Dalis siūlomų pramogų atspindėjo laikmečio politiką – populiarinti visa, kas susiję su tautine lietuvių kultūra. Tiriama tema atskleidė, jog Alytuje trečiojo dešimtmečio pradžioje kultūrinių-pramoginių renginių spektras viešojoje erdvėje didesniąja dalimi apsiribojo vargonininkų ir parapijų chorų veikla. Tai gali byloti, jog gyventojai buvo ganėtinai konservatyvūs, nebuvo masiškų pramogų poreikio. Ketvirtajame dešimtmetyje alytiškių muzikinių pramogų diapazoną praplėtė keletas egzistavusių chorų: „Visuomenės choras”, šaulių rinktinės, Darbo Rūmų Alytaus klubo chorai bei ulonų pulko dūdų orkestras. Žvelgiant į Alytų iš valstybės muzikinio gyvenimo pozicijų, Alytus buvo provincija, kurioje retais atvejais buvo galima pasimėgauti respublikinių chorų repertuaru – užfiksuota vos treji atvejai. Galimas daiktas, jog Alytuje masiškesnio pobūdžio renginiams didele kliūtimi buvo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In 1918-1940. Alytus time authorization methods and systems have their own characteristics. It can be argued that even arose a sort of leisure tradition. In addition to the entertainment and leisure time in this study is specific surveillance angle, through which you can see a new era of public culture, lifestyle, aesthetic, artistic and historical processes. Local culture study helps purify even unnoticed era characteristics. The investigation revealed that in Alytus organized entertainment and leisure in social life, the townsfolk, not least through the events manifested in many different ways and wide. Some attractions offered reflected the era policies - to promote all that is related to the ethnic Lithuanian culture. The survey revealed the theme of the third Alytus early cultural-entertainment spectrum of public space was limited to the higher part of the parish organist and choir activities. This may indicate that the population has been relatively conservative, did not die in large entertainment needs. In the fourth decade of Alytus musical entertainment has broadened the range of a few choirs existed: "Public choir, small teams of Labour's Irkutsk club Uhlans Regiment choirs and brass band. Looking to Alytus from the state of musical attitudes, Alytus was a province which in rare cases it was possible to enjoy the Republican repertoire - recorded just three cases. It is possible that the types of events in Alytus masiškesnio major obstacle was lack of technical... [to full text]

Darbo tema – Skaitymas kaip akademinio jaunimo laisvalaikio praleidimo būdas (VPU atvejis). Darbo problema, aktualumas ir naujumas. Šiuolaikiniame pasaulyje, kur visų svarbiausia tampa informacinė visuomenė, tampa būtinybe įgyti žmogiškąjį ir kultūrinį kapitalus. Norint juos tinkamai sukurti, reikia nuolat mokytis. O norint mokintis, reikia skaityti daug įvairios literatūros. Nors skaitymo klausimais yra domėjęsi ne vienas mokslininkas ir nors yra atliktas ne vienas skaitymo ypatumų tyrimas, Lietuvos studentai šiuo klausimu yra menkai analizuoti. Kadangi šiuolaikinis jaunimas yra ateities pasaulio kūrėjai, tampa būtinybe išanalizuoti, kaip jie vertina skaitymą, jo vertę ir ateitį. Darbo tikslas - išnagrinėti VPU akademinio jaunimo skaitymo ypatumus laisvalaikio kontekste. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Ištirti ir apibendrinti sociologines laisvalaikio ir skaitymo sampratas; 2. Išanalizuoti jaunimo laisvalaikio praleidimo būdus Lietuvoje ir užsienyje; 3. Atskleisti jaunimo skaitymo galimybes, motyvaciją bei lektūros pasirinkimo problemas; 4. Empiriniu būdu ištirti skirtingų VPU studentų specialybių skaitymo ypatumus laisvalaikio metu. Tyrimo hipotezės: 1. Į universitetą įstojęs jaunimas laisvalaikiu skaito mažiau nei skaitydavo mokydamiesi mokykloje. 2. Dažniausiai akademinis jaunimas laisvalaikiu skaito romantinę literatūrą ir detektyvus. 3. Moderniojo pasaulio technologinės naujovės (kompiuteris, internetas) neskatina jaunimo skaityti elektronines knygas – dažniausiai jaunimas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Work theme – reading as a students’ leisure time activity (case of VPU). Research problem, relevance and novelty. In today’s world, where information society is becoming more and more important, it is necessary to gain human and cultural capital. If a person wants to develop the values appropriately, he has to learn all through his life and to read lots of books of different kinds. Although lots of researches have been done in order to study reading peculiarities, there are only a few analyses of Lithuania’s students’ attitude to reading. Since today’s youth is the builder of the future, it becomes necessary to analyze their reading peculiarities. Aim of this work – to analyze VPU students’ reading habits in their leisure time. Research problems: 1. To analyze and summarize sociological conceptions of leisure time and reading; 2. To find out how youth spend their leisure time in Lithuania and abroad; 3. To study students’ possibilities to read, motivation for reading, and problems of choosing what to read; 4. To do the empirical analysis in order to find out reading habits of VPU students. Hypotheses of the research: 1. While studying at university young people read less than they did at school; 2. The most popular kinds of books that students read are novels and detectives; 3. The new technologies of modern world (computer, television) do not encourage young people to read electronic books – students still prefer reading the printed ones; 4. Students of humanities read... [to full text]

The works of historians such as Hargreaves, Tranter, Walvin, McCrone and Bailey suggest that women were, for a variety of reasons, gradually entering into the ‘world of sport’ from the middle of the nineteenth century onwards. Despite a lack of research it has been argued that this trend, of increased participation amongst women, continued into the twentieth century. Recent studies have tended to converged on the broad leisure choices of women, ignoring the place of sport within these experiences. This study therefore addresses an under researched topic: the development of women’s participation in sport in Scotland between 1920 and 1937. Many argue that during the interwar years there was a general distortion of the traditional boundaries between ‘public’ and ‘private’ areas of life for women. However, it has also been acknowledged that notions of gender differences persisted in this period. This study contributes to a wider understanding of gender relations during the period. It probes how women’s involvement in physically demanding sports were influenced by existing discourses and enabled the emergence of new ones. This thesis does not aim to chart the chronological growth and development of specific sports but rather seeks to understand the ways in which sport was incorporated into women’s lives and the meanings which they attached to their experiences. Each section of the thesis deals with a different area of participation. It examines the development of physical education in schools, the establishment and growth of a selection of sports organizations, the growth and use of local council run sports facilities and the development of work-based sport for women. This research focuses on contemporary depictions and discussions of sportswomen during these years as well as drawing on the views of sportswomen themselves. It employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies in order to achieve a holistic and balanced interpretation of interwar sports participation and the attitudes that influenced it.