On The Edge: Extreme Life

Casey, John

Booth, Douglas

<p>The past decade has seen a tremendous growth in the popularity of activities like skateboarding and snowboarding&#x3b; sports that have been labelled as 'extreme' or 'lifestyle' and which embody 'alternative' sporting values such as anti-competitiveness, anti-regulation, high risk and personal freedom. The popularity of these activities goes beyond the teenage male youth that the media typify as their main consumers. This book examines the popularity, significance and meaning of lifestyle sport, exploring the sociological significance of these activities, particularly as related to their consumption, and the expression of politics of identity and difference. </p><p>Including much unique ethnographic research work with skaters, surfers, windsurfers, climbers, adventure racers, and ultimate frisbee players., the central themes explored in <em>The Cultural Politics of Lifestyle Sports </em>include: </p><ul> <li>How might we describe lifestyle sports?</li> <li>What influence do commercial forces have on lifestyle sports?</li> <li>Do lifestyle sports challenge the hegemonic masculinities inherent in a traditional sport environment?</li> </ul><p>This book is a compelling exploration of sport as a way of life, and is a vital resource for any lecturer or student interested in Sociology and Cultural Studies in a Sports context. </p>

<p>The past decade has seen a tremendous growth in the popularity of activities like skateboarding and snowboarding&#x3b; sports that have been labelled as 'extreme' or 'lifestyle' and which embody 'alternative' sporting values such as anti-competitiveness, anti-regulation, high risk and personal freedom. The popularity of these activities goes beyond the teenage male youth that the media typify as their main consumers. This book examines the popularity, significance and meaning of lifestyle sport, exploring the sociological significance of these activities, particularly as related to their consumption, and the expression of politics of identity and difference. </p><p>Including much unique ethnographic research work with skaters, surfers, windsurfers, climbers, adventure racers, and ultimate frisbee players., the central themes explored in <em>The Cultural Politics of Lifestyle Sports </em>include: </p><ul> <li>How might we describe lifestyle sports?</li> <li>What influence do commercial forces have on lifestyle sports?</li> <li>Do lifestyle sports challenge the hegemonic masculinities inherent in a traditional sport environment?</li> </ul><p>This book is a compelling exploration of sport as a way of life, and is a vital resource for any lecturer or student interested in Sociology and Cultural Studies in a Sports context. </p>

<p>Adventure and outdoor 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.</p><p>Each chapter in the book introduces a key 'classical' or modern social theorist, including Marx, Durkheim, Weber and Elias, or a universal topic or issue in social theory, such as sustainability, commodification or identity. Within each of those 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, <em>Outdoor Adventure and Social Theory</em> is the perfect companion for any module on the sociology of sport, adventure or outdoor recreation. </p>

<p>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 either a key social theorist, or a universal topic or issue in social theory. Within each of those 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, <em>Outdoor Adventure and Social Theory</em> is the perfect companion for any module on the sociology of sport, adventure or outdoor recreation. </p>