Outdoor Adventure and Social Theory

185 Pages·2013·0.773 MB·English

by  Elizabeth C.J. Pike, Simon Beames

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
AND SOCIAL THEORY
Adventure sports – from rock climbing to freestyle kayaking – are a modern social
phenomenon that can tell us much about the relationship between sport, culture
and contemporary society. In this engaging new introductory text, adventure sports
are used to illustrate key concepts in social theory and to demonstrate why an
understanding of social theory is essential for any student taking a course in sport,
adventure or outdoor education.
Each chapter in the book introduces a key ‘classical’ or modern social theorist,
such as Marx, Durkheim, Weber or Elias, or a universal topic or issue in social
theory, such as sustainability, commodification or identity. Within each of the
chapters the theorist or topic is brought to life through case studies of adventurous
activities and lived experiences, helping the reader to connect their own sporting
and adventurous interests with the frameworks we use to understand wider culture
and society. Concise and full of cutting-edge contemporary examples, Outdoor
Adventure and Social Theoryis the perfect companion for any module on the sociology
of sport, adventure or outdoor recreation.
Elizabeth C.J. Pikeis Head of Sport Development and Management, Reader in
the Sociology of Sport and Exercise and Chair of the Anita White Foundation at
the University of Chichester, UK. She co-authored Sports in Society: Issues and
Controversies and is the current President of the International Sociology of Sport
Association.
Simon Beames is the programme director of the MSc in Outdoor Education at
the University of Edinburgh, UK. He is co-author of Learning outside the Classroom
and editor of Understanding Educational Expeditions.
‘I teach a course in the philosophy of leisure, and I feel like I am fairly
knowledgeable about outdoor recreation and social theory. When I read
Marx, Weber, and other scholars I knew well, the chapters in this book
clarified my thinking. When I dove into theorists less familiar to me (e.g.
Foucault, Elias), I immediately discovered new directions my philosophy
course needed to take. Outdoor Adventure and Social Theory will markedly
improve my own teaching.’
Steven Simpson, University Graduate Director and Recreation Management and
Therapeutic Recreation Chair, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, USA
‘Aimed at making social theory relevant to, and accessible for under-
graduate students on the growing array of outdoor education and
adventure courses that are emerging, Outdoor Adventure and Social Theory
does just that. Written in an engaging and accessible way, it draws together
an impressive array of academic experts who are also adventure sports
enthusiasts. Its remit is comprehensive and challenging; each chapter
showing how a particular theoretical perspective helps to understand these
sporting practices. It starts with the seminal thinkers in classic social theory
(Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber), then moves through more
contemporary thinkers (e.g. Giddens and Foucault). Chapters also focus on
important themes in the contemporary adventure landscape, such as the
impact of globalisation, and how adventure practices impact negatively on
the environment. This book will be a really valuable textbook for
undergraduate students across the range of outdoor education courses, and
will also appeal to those who participate in, or have interest in, outdoor
and adventurous activities.’
Dr Belinda Wheaton, Principal Research Fellow, University of Brighton, UK
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
AND SOCIAL THEORY
Edited by Elizabeth C.J. Pike
and Simon Beames
First published 2013
by Routledge
2Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
©2013 selection and editorial material, Elizabeth C.J. Pike and Simon Beames;
individual chapters, the contributors
The right of the editors to be identified as the authors of the editorial material,
and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance
with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Trademark notice:Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent
toinfringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Acatalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Outdoor adventure and social theory / edited by Elizabeth Pike and
Simon Beames.
p. cm.
1. Endurance sports. 2. Outdoor recreation. 3. Sports–Sociological aspects.
I. Pike, Elizabeth. II. Beames, Simon.
GV749.5.O88 2013
796.046–dc23
2012043207
ISBN: 978-0-415-53266-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-53267-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-11477-3 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by Keystroke, Station Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton
To our students over the years:Thanks for the discussions and
debates that have enhanced our own understandings of social theory
and its applications. (SKB & ECJP)
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CONTENTS
Notes on contributors ix
1 Outdoor adventure and social theory 1
Simon Beames and Elizabeth C.J.Pike
PART I
Classical sociological interpretations of outdoor
adventure 11
2 Karl Marx:alienation and false consciousness in adventurous
activities 13
Carl Cater and Greg Dash
3 Emile Durkheim:structural functionalism,adventure and the
social order 23
Mike Brown
4 Max Weber:rationalization and new realms of the commodity
form 34
Peter Varley
viii Contents
PART II
Modern social theorists and adventure sports 43
5 Antonio Gramsci:freestyle kayaking,hegemony,coercion and
consent 45
Jerry Tracey
6 Norbert Elias:the quest for excitement in Parkour 55
Michael Atkinson
7 Erving Goffman:sail training,interactionism and the ‘total
institution’ 66
Ken McCulloch
8 Pierre Bourdieu:habitus,field and capital in rock climbing 77
Simon Beames and John Telford
9 Anthony Giddens:structuration theory and mountaineering 88
Paul Beedie
10 Michel Foucault:power,surveillance and governmentality in
outdoor education 99
Robyn Zink
PART III
Contemporary themes in social theory and
adventurous activities 111
11 Feminist theory and outdoor leadership 113
Linda Allin and Amanda West
12 Identity politics in the outdoor adventure environment 125
Elizabeth C.J.Pike and Johnny Weinstock
13 Globalization,the market and outdoor adventure 135
Chris Loynes
14 Outdoor adventure in a carbon-light era 147
Kate Rawles
15 Conclusions on outdoor adventure and social theory 159
Elizabeth C.J.Pike and Simon Beames
Index 164
CONTRIBUTORS
Linda Allin is a principal lecturer in the Department of Sport Development at
Northumbria University. Her PhD explored ‘Women’s careers in outdoor edu-
cation’, and she was one of the co-editors of the Journal of Adventure Education and
Outdoor Learningfrom 2007 to 2012. Her main outdoor adventures involve kayaking
and playing on white water.
Michael Atkinsonis associate professor and ethnographer of physical culture in the
Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. His
teaching and research interests focus on movement cultures, bioethics, violence and
figurational sociology.
Simon Beames is the programme director of the MSc in Outdoor Education at
the University of Edinburgh. He is co-author of Learning outside the Classroom
(Routledge, 2011) and editor of Understanding Educational Expeditions (Sense, 2010).
Paul Beedie is currently head of department (acting), PE and Sport Studies at the
University of Bedfordshire. He is an experienced rock climber and mountaineer.
His research has been driven by an interest in adventure and includes explorations
of risk, identity and community.
Mike Brownis a senior lecturer in the Department of Sport and Leisure Studies at
the University of Waikato, New Zealand. His research and teaching focus is outdoor
education. His recent work promotes place-responsive approaches to teaching and
learning in the outdoors. He is a keen sailor – when time allows.
Carl Cater teaches tourism at Aberystwyth University, Wales, and his research
centres on the experiential turn in tourism and the subsequent growth of special