Chapter 2: Leisure and The Built Environment
2.1 Leisure Evolution and Revolution
2.1.1 Why Human Needs Leisure and When Does It Really Start
their free time, leisure is actually much more exciting and multifaceted. An all- encompassing phrase used to describe the meaning, conditions, functions, and opportunities associated with play or recreation. The Latin word "licere," which means "to be permitted to withdraw from work or service," is the origin of the English "leisure.". This shows the roots of leisure, which is defined as a period of time in which one is not required to perform any physical or mental activity in order to be considered to be
"occupied" or "served."
- Humanity and Leisure Development
In the early nomadic societies, which relied on a hunting-and-gathering economy, work and play appear to have been practically identical. No obvious separation between work and leisure existed in the early communal forms of society centered on hunting and gathering, either in the community as a whole or in the lives of individuals.
Work and what would be termed "leisure" by today's standards for most members of society are inextricably linked in daily life.
Sahlins, supporting his idea by ethno-archaeological studies, states that there existed abundant leisure for each individual in a hunter-gatherer society.
However, the leisure time was mostly consumed in rest and sleep. The majority of people’s time free from the main objective, food collection, was spent in resting in the camp, visiting other camps or entertaining visitors from other camps. (McLean et al., 2012, p. 50)
Human civilization is a complex whole that includes knowledge, art, morality, law, and all other human capacities that have been developed as a result of his participation in society. In anthropology, culture is the unifying term because it makes apparent that culture is something that is learnt and shared, rather than something that is inherent. Many definitions of culture can be broken down into four broad groups. To begin, culture is often defined as the information, ideas, and values that are shared by people in a certain culture.
- Prehistoric Life Without Leisure? So, When Did Leisure Begin?
Therefore, leisure should be seen as key to human development. Not only did it pave the way for great philosophers and religious men, others also used it in connection to their identity as it is part of human nature. (Haworth J., 2004, p.
2)
There is less of a separation between work and play among tribal peoples than there is among more technologically evolved communities. Such stark divisions between work and play are absent in pre-industrial society. Instead, work is often done when it is accessible or necessary, and rituals and traditions are frequently woven into the process to bring variety and delight. Instead of having a narrow, specific task needing precisely defined skill in modern industry, work is often diversified and imaginative in such tribal societies. In many cultures, rituals are an integral part of the process of planting, harvesting, and building, as well as hunting and fishing. There may be prayer, sacrifice, dancing or feasting as part of the ceremony.
People would think that chronological research would start by looking at what Paleolithic and Neolithic people did for fun. But not much is known about how people spent their free time and played in these early centuries. Archaeologists have found artifacts that show how early people all over the world were creative, athletic, and had
fun. We have also extrapolated from missionary and anthropological studies of "primitive"
communities from the 1800s and early 1900s.
Play may have had multiple origins in prehistoric cultures. Popular games were frequently remnants of conflict that were played as a type of sport. Most likely, musical instruments were established for use in religious ceremonies. Early art such as pottery, painting, and drawings served as a record of both daily life and cultural mythology. Beads and other types of jewelry were created as external representations of individual rank and group membership. When an activity ceased to be useful in its original form (such as archery for hunting or combat), it evolved into a sport that allowed individuals and groups to demonstrate physical talent and strategy. Frequently, the genesis was a religious ceremony in which games represented an ongoing conflict between good and evil or life and death.
Figure 3 Pre-Historic Daily Life
Retrieved from prezi.com/o0pchuqimvrw/prehistoric-recreation-and-leisure/
As early human communities and societies became more complex, people began to specialize in certain tasks. By taming plants and animals, people were able to change from a nomadic way of life based on hunting and gathering food to a mostly stationary way of life based on grazing animals and growing crops. In the end, soldiers, artisans, peasants, slaves, and governing classes all came into being. As villages and cities grew and huge estates were farmed by lower-class workers (sometimes with complicated water storage and irrigation systems), upper-class societies got more power, money, and
free time. So, for the first time in history, the aristocracy of Middle Eastern civilizations that grew up 5,000 years before Christ had a leisure class.
- Hunter-Gatherer Societies and Their Leisure Time
The first kind of job was working in the fields. Since hunter-gatherer societies came before agrarian societies, agricultural labor was not a part of the earliest human experience. Instead, it developed later in human history, maybe only 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. Anthropologists and leisure theorists don't agree on whether or not work and leisure are real in hunter-gatherer societies because there isn't a clear line between time spent hunting and gathering and time spent doing other things. In the past century or so, direct information about the hunter-gatherer way of life has been gathered from the small number of tribal groups still living traditional lives in places like Australia, Papua New Guinea, South America, and the Arctic. Efforts have also been made to create "time budgets" for people living in these conditions.
If work is defined as a "essential for survival" activity, then hunting and gathering should be considered work. In contrast, part of the time left over from these activities could be called leisure time. Sahlins notes that the number of hours spent in obtaining food in hunter-gatherer societies was probably little more than between three and five hours a day for most communities for most of the time and that, even in daylight hours, a great deal of time was spent in ‘resting’. (Sahlins, 1972, pp. 15-20)
It wasn't until agriculture and the emergence of permanent settlements in the form of towns and cities that work began to take shape in a way that is immediately identifiable to us today, as in terms of how we think about it. Commitment to land, crops, and domesticated animals, as well as a daily and seasonal cycle of work. The building and maintenance of physical, communal human settlements, as well as the accompanying social framework, accelerated the evolution of work. Specialized occupations like stone, leather, wood, and metal craftsmen arose as towns grew. Because of this occurrence, it became possible for social structures to evolve that included a "leisure class" of people who did not engage in manual labor but extracted a surplus from those around them (whether voluntary or involuntary). This phenomenon continued even into the industrial revolution. The Genesis narrative's status division between labor and leisure was a result of the elite's exclusion from labor.
- Socialization That Brings Leisure Development
When it came to the sciences, Egypt was at the pinnacle of its knowledge. With a large nobility and clergy, as well as a lower class of laborers and peasants, Egypt had a complicated class structure. From 5,000 B.C. to the time of the Roman Empire, this civilisation produced an abundance of artwork, including paintings, statues, and hieroglyphic writings. The ancient Egyptians, according to legend, devoted their abilities to the art of living and dying, lived a colorful and happy life as a result of that. Wrestling, gymnastic exercises, lifting and swinging weights, and ball games were all part of their training and recreation. Bullfighting was first performed as a religious act, and it quickly became a popular spectator sport. Musical, theatrical, and dance performances were used for both religious and social purposes.
Figure 4 Ancient Egypt Painting of different Leisure Class and activities Retrieved from www.timetoast.com/timelines/history-of-leisure-activities
The Egyptians used a wide range of stringed and percussion instruments in their orchestras. Troupes of female performers were employed by temples and the royal families for both religious and social events. Between the Tigris and the Euphrates, in what was known as the "fertile crescent," two powerful empires vied for control: Assyria in the north and Babylon in the south. Nearly 26 centuries elapsed between these kingdoms and the arrival of Alexander the Great's armies in 330 B.C. They were just like the ancient Egyptians in that they loved a variety of recreational sports, including boxing, wrestling, archery and a number of table games.
The Assyrians liked hunting in addition to seeing dancing, listening to music, and hosting banquets; Assyrian aristocrats used spears to hunt lions in chariots and on foot.
Numerous reliefs, sculptures, and inscriptions attest to the ubiquity of the practice. Royal
hunting expeditions began using parks as hunting grounds as early as the ninth century B.C.
They also functioned as locations for banquets, meetings, and royal gatherings. During the ninth and tenth centuries B.C., the estates of other emperors included vineyards, fishponds, and the famed hanging gardens of Babylon. As with other ancient communities, the ancient Hebrews indulged in hunting, fishing, wrestling, and the recreational and defensive usage of swords and javelins. The most major contribution they made to leisure was designating the seventh day, the Sabbath, as a day of rest and worship.
Figure 5 Diagram of relationship between early leisure activities and leisure class
When people of all socioeconomic classes congregated in a common public space for recreation, there were no longer any social boundaries between them.
Regardless of the form public leisure took, its ultimate goal was to propagate the imperial ideological system by managing the internal forces of the society and moderating the disputes between the various socioeconomic strata of the population. It was private pleasures such as dining with friends and family, visual pleasure, or private spectacles that dominated private free time. Elite members and their dependents, as well as among themselves, relied heavily on private leisure, which had a defined social behavior system.
- Vernacular Architecture and Leisure Life
For the inhabitants of the past, leisure activities and vernacular architecture were intertwined in their daily lives. The true nature of the vacation was reflected in the
old architecture. A deeper sense of location and community can be achieved through antique and vernacular architecture that goes beyond abstract purity and spatial overturn.
Is it possible to strive to the same ideals in modern architecture without succumbing to sentimentality.
Figure 6 Vernacular Japanese Architecture with Leisure activities
Retrieved from hiddenarchitecture.net/interior-architecture-of-vernacular-japanese-home/
Cultural standards predate particular structures in all architecture. Designers and builders, as well as end-users, have a strong connection to vernacular traditions because these norms are understood by all three parties. The exaggeration of Western vernacular culture's yearning for a will free from environmental restrictions and an artificiality aesthetically is the source of modern Western design. Participation, commitment, and an egalitarian political morality are the foundations of a true vernacular heritage. Many of these forces have been lost in modern society, which has resulted in illiteracy and cultural deterioration, as well as an overall decrease in personal empowerment. The vernacular architecture, on the other hand, is an external expression of a long-lasting societal concept. Vernacular architecture, despite its flaws, portrays the vernacular designer as a nuanced social engineer who is able to arrange human relationships in accordance with existing social norms.
Loss of vernacular tradition is typically related with the establishment of obstacles to direct social interaction, the compartmentalization of functions within a
structure, and social reformation. Typically, these shifts coincide to a shift from a society based on trust to one based on exploitative socioeconomic relationships. (Omar, 2014, pp.
3-4) The study of vernacular traditions enables the architect to become more self-aware and critical of his own culture's customs. It also makes him a conservationist and a social activist. For an architect, perhaps a diligent field study of the local and original context can support the reconstruction of the shared design principles that characterized vernacular traditions in modern society.
Figure 7 Vernacular Architecture and Rural Tourism in Malang village, Indonesia Retrieved from www.thejakartapost.com
In rural tourism, visitors want to experience the vernacular architectural structure, culture, and environment of a remote rural community. This implies that a rural cultural landscape cannot exist without the rural landscape, vernacular architecture, and cultural life of the region. The resurgence of the rural economy is accompanied by absolute protection afforded by rural tourism. To meet the requirements of rural tourism, it is vital to employ vernacular architecture. For example, the majority of the villager's houses are still in use and could accommodate tourists, as might the syrup buildings, which are also in use. Additionally, the molasses-making process and grape harvest will provide tourists with a unique cultural experience. (Solikhah, 2020, p. 2)
- Greek to Roman Leisure Life and Architectural Development.
For the ancients, leisure was a very different concept than it is today, with a distinct distinction between "work" and "nonwork" activities. When it comes to the concept of leisure, the Greek philosophers of the Classical era were the first to think about it. It was a luxury for them to have time to pursue their personal and intellectual growth, and they used it to do so. The Romans adopted this principle and incorporated it into their leisure culture.(McLean et al., 2012, p. 51)
There are many famous thinkers who lived in Ancient Greece, which is commonly accepted to be between "the archetypal era in the ninth and sixth century BCE and its invasion by Rome after its victory in the Battle of Corinth. At the same time, Aristotle's "cultivation of the self-interpretation" in Ancient Greece is an interesting example of how leisure time was conceptualized in antiquity. At this time, leisure was seen as a means of discovering one's true identity and the truth about oneself. Being in contemplation was important since it meant that you weren't occupied by other things like work or other duties. However, what exactly was the term "leisure" used to describe.
"They learned music and played it and enjoyed the physical arts of war and sport. They were skilled in intellectual conversation, and that consumed much time. But they rarely had an interest in talking about handwork and ordinary labour or even cared to understand its meaning. In their way of life there was no hurry". (Balsdon, 1969, p. 91)
Thus, leisure was the foundation of society and culture, paving the path for numerous great philosophers through intellectual discourses. But for leisure to exist as it did in Ancient Greece, as time without obligations or obligations, it was necessary to differentiate between individuals. This division served primarily to permit certain individuals to engage in leisure, while others were obliged to engage in the antithesis of leisure: labor and hard work. Or, as Murphy puts it, "the aristocratic aspect of the Ancient democracy gave the leisure class a legacy of taste and refinement that was maintained by the nobility" (Murphy, 1981, p. 25), so slavery made leisure feasible for the privileged. The elite utilized slavery as a means of
expressing authority and control, maybe even for the sole purpose of exerting control over others.
But "dominating and bossing others around are among the first activities that humans, newly empowered, discovered and enjoyed for their own sakes"
(Hunnicutt, 2013, p. 60), indicating that leisure consisted not only of contemplation and conversation, but also of horrible activities that created divisions between groups of people. Nevertheless, "servants and women held in whatever degree of servitude were able to distinguish between times in their lives when service was necessary and times when they were more free to do as they pleased". (Hunnicutt, 2013, p. 63) Even while leisure is primarily viewed as a privilege for the upper classes of males, women, and slaves also experienced leisure to some degrees. This demonstrates that the availability of leisure varied according to social status and gender in Ancient Greece, but that everyone likely enjoyed it to some degree.
Figure 8 Early Greek Sport and Leisure Activities
Retrieved from factsanddetails.com/world/cat56/sub399/entry-6336.html
Athenians start taking part in a wide range of physical and cultural activities when they are very young. Toys, dolls, wagons, jump ropes, kites, and seesaws were fun for young kids to play with. Boys learn to run, jump, wrestle, throw the javelin and discus, dance (as a form of military training), box, swim, and play ball games when they are seven years old. The ancient Greek philosophers were sure that the mind and body were one, and that all of a person's qualities and skills were linked. They thought that play was important for a child's physical and social growth. Plato thought that education should be required and that it should give children a natural way to have fun. He thought that
education should start by focusing on sports for kids. In ancient Greece, men and women didn't do the same things for fun. However, there are historical examples of women getting a basic education and young girls taking part in sports. (McLean et al., 2012, p. 54)
The ancient Greeks were pioneers in urban planning, laying out enormous tracts of land for public parks and gardens, as well as outdoor theaters and gymnasiums, as well as public baths and sports fields. At the time when Plato was writing, the gymnasium and the park were interconnected in beautiful natural settings, with indoor rooms and gardens, and facilities for musical events. Public baths and parks were replaced by private property in ancient Athens. As time went on, the Greeks' approach to leisure and entertainment evolved. Physical specialization, corruption, and even a political goal steadily destroyed the religious and cultural aspects of the Olympic games and other festivals. Athletes and other performers in the arts, such as actors, singers, and dancers, were traditionally selected from the lower classes or even slaves and trained or developed their skills over the year to perform for large audiences.
For the Greeks, leisure was used as a "cultural arena in which vital questions of human means and ends, of purpose and hence of meaning, have been addressed", and thus gave room to answer significant questions concerning life and human-beings since "man is a symbolizing, conceptualizing, meaning- seeking animal". Leisure could be seen as a means to understand the meaning of life and come to know and develop the self. Leisure thus led to identity and self-development through personal growth and freedom, since "the sign of an educated person was active leisure". (Carcopino, 1940, pp. 34-35)
Figure 9 Panathenaic one the first cultural arena that begin to develop since 6th century Retrieved from www.neh.gov/divisions/preservation/featured-project/