This thought-provoking and innovative book argues for the importance of leisure studies as a lens through which to understand and interrogate our 'hypermodern' society.
In the book, leading leisure scholars describe the hypermodern moment, in which globalisation and technology have led to an acceleration of contemporary life, defined by constant experience, consumption, and pleasure-seeking, and driven by capitalist, neoliberal logics. They argue that leisure remains a reliable mirror of the evolution of our social world, and that certain forms of leisure challenge and disrupt the prevailing socio-economic structures. Presenting case studies of leisure worlds, including ultramarathon, lifestyle sports, and improv theatre, the book draws on concepts including free time, value, flow, and community that help us to better understand the position of leisure in a hypermodern world. It describes alternative social and commercial frameworks—including transmodernity and hypomodernity—that add a new dimension to contemporary leisure studies.
Exploring the cutting edge of social theory, this book is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in the sociology or philosophy of leisure, cultural studies, or the sociology of sport.