Unit information: Leisure, Pleasure and Harm in 2019/20

Unit name	Leisure, Pleasure and Harm
Unit code	SPOL30063
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Joanna Large
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will explore new developments in criminology which explore the relationship between leisure and consumption and harm. Drawing upon new theoretical frameworks such as 'deviant leisure' and critical criminological approaches which focus on harm, this unit will explore new fields of research. Through exploring a range of leisure activities, which are generally non-criminal, value-normative and culturally acceptable - even socially desirable - this unit will encourage students to critically analyse leisure, pleasure and consumption choices with reference to criminological and sociological analyses of harm, crime, culture and identity.

This unit aims to encourage students to critically analyse leisure and consumption choices in relation to understandings of harm. This will include students looking at issues such as how crime is constructed and how harm is embedded in legitimate and culturally acceptable activities within the context of global consumer capitalism.

Specifically the unit will examine:

• theoretical frameworks including 'deviant leisure', cultural criminology, ultra-realism, green criminology and zemiology
• research topics including fashion, beauty, tourism, alcohol, charity and gambling in relation to consumer capitalism, crime and harm

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

• Synthesise and critically appraise relevant topics and areas of research in relation to key theoretical ideas.
• Apply appropriate key concepts and theories to a specific topic.
• Engage critically in scholarly discussion in relation to a specific topic and present appropriate academically rigorous arguments in a professional manner.
• Produce and critically discuss an academic poster.

Teaching Information

This unit will be delivered by a weekly two hour workshop. Teaching sessions will make use of experiential learning techniques and may take place both inside and outside of the classroom. Students are expected to prepare for each workshop by completing any designated reading and/or activities set as part of the guided independent study.

Students will have the opportunity to take part in formative assessment throughout the workshops. This will include a group presentation of a research paper (selection provided) that links to the core ideas of the unit assisting the students in preparation of the summative assessment. The workshops will also include guidance on preparing and presenting academic posters.

Workshops (20 hours)

Assessment Information

Critical summary (1000 words) (25%)

Indvidual poster presentation (10 mins) and critical review (1000 words) (75%)

Reading and References

Essential

Raymen, T. and Smith, O. (Eds) (2019) Deviant Leisure: Criminological Perspectives on Leisure and Harm. Palgrave.

Smith, O & Raymen, T (2016) Deviant Leisure: A Criminological Perspective. Theoretical Criminology. ONLINE FIRST First Published August 11, 2016 https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480616660188

Atkinson, R (2014) Shades of Deviance: A Primer on Crime, Deviance and Social Harm. London: Routledge

Brisman, A and South, N (2014) Green Cultural Criminology. Constructions of Environmental Harm, Consumerism and Resistance to Ecocide. London: Routledge

Hall, S & Winlow, S (2015) Revitalizing Criminological Theory. Towards a New Ultra Realism. London: Routledge

Hayward, K & Smith, O (2017) Crime and Consumer Culture. IN A. Liebling; S. Maruna; L. McAra (eds). The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. 6th ed. Oxford: OUP

Winlow, S & Atkinson, R (2013) (eds) New Directions in Crime and Deviancy. London: Routledge