Conspicuous leisure
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Conspicuous leisure is a concept introduced by the American economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen, in The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899). Conspicuous OE VISIBLE LEISURE
or visible leisure is engaged in for the sake of displaying and attaining social status.
The concept comprises
those;
1. forms of leisure
2.that seem to be
FULLY MOTIVATED
fully motivated
BY SOCIAL FACTORS
by social factors, such as
1. TAKING A LONG VACATION
2. TO EXOTIC PLACES
taking long vacations to exotic places
3. BRING SOUVENIRS BACK
and bringing souvenirs back.
CONSPICUOUS LEISURE IS OBSERVED
Conspicuous leisure is observed
IN ALL SOCIETIES
Conspicuous leisure
1. CONTRIBUTES TO THE GLORIFICATION
2. OF NON-PRODUCTIVITY
contributes to the glorification of non-productivity,
3. THUS VALIDATING THE BEHAVIIOR
thus validating the behavior
OF THE MOST POWERFUL CLASSES
of the most powerful classes
AND LEADING THE LOWER CLASSES:
TO ADMIRE
and leading the lower classes to admire rather than revile the leisure class.
This aids the leisure class in retaining their status and material position. Veblen's more well-known concept of "conspicuous consumption" is employed when non-productivity can be more effectively demonstrated through lavish spending.
Veblen argued that conspicuous leisure
1.HAD DEEP HISTORICAL ROOTS.
2.REACHING BACK INTO PREHISTORY
had deep historical roots reaching back into prehistory,
and that it "evolved" into different forms as time passed.
One example he gave was how, during the Middle Ages,
the nobility
WAS EXEMPTED FROM MANUAL LABOR
was exempted from manual labor,
WHICH WAS RESERVED FOR SERFS.
which was reserved for serfs.
LIKE OWING LAND
Like owning land, abstaining from labor is
a typical display of wealth and one that becomes
MORE PROBLEMATIC AS SOCIETY DEVELOPS
more problematic as society develops
INTO A INDUSTRIAL ONE
into an industrial one.
WITH THE EMERGENCE OF INDIVIDUAL:
OWNERSHIP.
With the emergence of individual ownership,
THE LEISURE CLASS
the leisure class completely
SYOPS CONTRIBUTING THE WELLBEING
OF THEIR COMMUNITY
stops contributing to the wellbeing of their community.
They no longer perform honor-positions, thus totally negating their usefulness to the society.
AND AS SOCIETY MOVES AWAY FROM:
1.HUNTING
2. AGRICULTURE
And as society moves away from hunting and agriculture,
AND FOWARDS INDUSTRIALIZATION
and towards industrialization, the leisure class can no longer simply take resources from others.
This is where Veblen offers us an image of the decaying
Lord or Lady who has lost his or her fortune
BUT IS UNABLE TO ENGAGE IN LABOR IN ORDER
TO LIVE.
but is unable to engage in labor in order to live.
menial and vulgar, yet once they can no longer live their
worthy life of leisure they suffer from an inability to
preserve themselves.
Veblen defines
LEISURE AS NON-PRODUCTIVE CONSUMPTION:
OF TIME
leisure as the non-productive consumption of time.
The wealthy consume time unproductively due to a disgust of menial labor but also as evidence of their pecuniary ability to live idle lives.
But there are moments when even the noble is not viewed publicly and then he must give a satisfactory account of his use of time. Often his account will manifest through the appearance of servants or some sort of craftsmen.
A material proof of leisure is another way that the noble demonstrates his wealth even when he is out of the public's eye.
Objects or trophies or knowledge that
HAS NO REAL-WORLD APPLICATION
has no real-world application are all examples of the things that the wealthy use to demonstrate their wealth and their leisure.
DISPLAYING RULES OF ETIQUETTE
Displaying rules of etiquette and breeding, and formal and ceremonial observances are other demonstrations of unproductive (and therefore leisurely) uses of time.
It is also not enough for the leisure class to live a life of idleness; their servants must also engage in the performance of leisure despite their position as hired help. They are given uniforms, spacious quarters and other material items that signal the wealth of their employer: the more lavish the servants' dress and quarters, the more money the master has to spend freely. This is an example of "conspicuous consumption," a form of conspicuous leisure. House servants give the illusion of "pecuniary decency" to the household, despite the physical discomfort that the leisure class feels at the sight of servants, who produce labor.
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