The article focuses on the characteristics and dynamics of the so-called “cultural consumption” just as they have been identified by Eduard C. Lindeman (1855-1953) in the US context after the end of World War II. In fact, the quality of recreational dimension – of individual, of family and of community as a whole – is an essential aspect in the Lindeman’s conceptions, in order to put into effect a democratic social order, in contrast to increasing standardisation pressures and trends of leisure time activities that are suggested and carried out. Therefore, the article considers some Lindeman’s writings which directly address this topic – e. g. Youth and Leisure (1937); Recreation and Moral (1941); Ideals for Family Life after the War (1942) – including the Italian translation of one of his most relevant articles in this field: The Dynamics of Recreational Theory (1948). The latter is a short essay, in which he addresses the homogenization of consumer-facing recreational activities, and their social, political and educational causes and effects. This in-depth analysis – which also aims to contribute to disseminating Lindeman’s thought and works, in the Italian context – can be interesting and useful both to understand the proposals by an author who is considered one of major founders of Adult Education in the modern perspective, more generally, and, in particular, to explain the emergence of the “American way of life”, highlighting some of its specific features.

L’articolo focalizza l’attenzione sulle caratteristiche e sulle dinamiche del cosiddetto “consumo culturale” individuate da Eduard C. Lindeman (1885-1953) nel contesto statunitense all’indomani della fine del secondo conflitto mondiale. La qualità della dimensione ricreativa – del singolo, del nucleo familiare, della comunità nel suo complesso – rappresenta, infatti, nelle concezioni di Lindeman, un aspetto imprescindibile per il concretizzarsi di un assetto sociale democratico, in contrasto con le crescenti pressioni/tendenze di standardizzazione delle attività, intitolate a scopi di lucro, proposte per e svolte nel tempo libero. L’articolo prende dunque in considerazione alcuni scritti di Lindeman che affrontano direttamente l’argomento – ad esempio: Youth and Leisure (1937); Recreation and Moral (1941); Ideals for Family Life after the War (1942) – ed include la traduzione in lingua italiana di un suo lavoro particolarmente significativo al riguardo: The Dynamics of Recreational Theory (1948). Si tratta di un breve saggio, in cui si entra nel merito non solo delle derive omologanti e consumistiche delle attività ricreative ma anche e soprattutto delle cause e delle implicazioni sociali, politiche ed educative del fenomeno. Questo approfondimento – che risponde anche all’intento di contribuire alla disseminazione culturale del pensiero e dell’opera di Lindeman nel contesto italiano – pare utile e interessante sia per comprendere, più in generale, l’impostazione e le proposte dell’autore che è considerato uno dei più importanti “padri fondatori” dell’educazione degli adulti in senso moderno, sia, in particolare, per interpretare l’emergere e l’affermarsi della cosiddetta “American way of life”, disvelandone alcuni dispositivi peculiari.

Tempo libero e qualità del consumo culturale: aspetti politico-educativi nella Recreational Theory di E. C. Lindeman

Marescotti Elena
2017

Abstract

The article focuses on the characteristics and dynamics of the so-called “cultural consumption” just as they have been identified by Eduard C. Lindeman (1855-1953) in the US context after the end of World War II. In fact, the quality of recreational dimension – of individual, of family and of community as a whole – is an essential aspect in the Lindeman’s conceptions, in order to put into effect a democratic social order, in contrast to increasing standardisation pressures and trends of leisure time activities that are suggested and carried out. Therefore, the article considers some Lindeman’s writings which directly address this topic – e. g. Youth and Leisure (1937); Recreation and Moral (1941); Ideals for Family Life after the War (1942) – including the Italian translation of one of his most relevant articles in this field: The Dynamics of Recreational Theory (1948). The latter is a short essay, in which he addresses the homogenization of consumer-facing recreational activities, and their social, political and educational causes and effects. This in-depth analysis – which also aims to contribute to disseminating Lindeman’s thought and works, in the Italian context – can be interesting and useful both to understand the proposals by an author who is considered one of major founders of Adult Education in the modern perspective, more generally, and, in particular, to explain the emergence of the “American way of life”, highlighting some of its specific features.
2017
Marescotti, Elena
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Marescotti, Tempo libero e qualità del consumo culturale RSE 2 2017.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: articolo completo
Tipologia: Full text (versione editoriale)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 1.03 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.03 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/2379470
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact