Question 1

In the early days of country music, there were a number of "family" groups, or families who became professional musicians together. This happened often, in part because many families made music together for fun. Today, far from singing together, the average family is more likely to have each member put on a pair of headphones and use an mp3 player to listen to music alone. What does this say about contemporary recreation and leisure?

Accepted Answer

The fact that individuals use mp3 players to listen to music alone suggests that contemporary recreation and leisure are mediated by material goods that we seem to "require" in order to have fun. It also indicates that individual leisure activities are preferred over group activities.

Question 2

Your hike might be considered part of the commercialization of leisure if:

Accepted Answer

Bringing expensive and specialized equipment, such as a solar panel backpack, is a sign of the commercialization of leisure. It suggests that the hiker is more focused on using technology to enhance their experience than on the natural environment itself.

Question 3

When one media conglomerate is able to market its products across a wide range of media, it is said to have:

Accepted Answer

When a media conglomerate is able to market its products across a wide range of media platforms such as television, radio, print, and online, it is said to have synergy. This means that the different parts of the company work together to create a combined effect that is greater than the sum of the individual effects.

Question 4

The Mall of America has more than ten thousand workers, occupies more than four million square feet, and receives more than forty million visitors each year. However, the mall offers more than just shopping. Concerts, plays, story times for children, flight simulators, and an indoor aquarium are just a few of the elements of what the mall calls its "retail experience." What point does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

The passage states that the Mall of America offers more than just shopping, including concerts, plays, and other entertainment options. This illustrates that shopping is now about more than just purchasing things, but also about experiencing entertainment.

Question 5

How has technology enabled the shift from spontaneous to organized recreation?

Accepted Answer

Technology has facilitated easier communication and coordination among people, making it simpler to organize group activities and events, thus shifting from spontaneous to organized recreation.

Question 6

Little League baseball and other organized community sports are examples of what phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Little League baseball and other organized community sports represent the formalization of recreation, where previously informal and spontaneous activities become structured and regulated.

Question 7

Given the ways spectatorship has changed in recent years, which of the following trends is it most closely related to?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Given the ways spectatorship has changed in...

Question 8

A flash mob is a sudden assembly of strangers in a public place for the purpose of performing some novel action (clapping for no reason, singing a song together, dancing, etc.) and then rapidly dispersing. Although they appear to be spontaneous to outsiders, in reality flash mobs are organized through e-mails, social networking sites, and text messages. This is a good example of how technology can:

Accepted Answer

Flash mobs are organized using technology such as e-mails, social networking sites, and text messages. This shows how technology makes it easier to organize people for a specific purpose like a social gathering or event. Therefore, choice D, "make it easier to organize people," is the best option.

Question 9

A small child asks his babysitter if he can play "tag." The child means the simple outdoor game wherein one player chases the other players until she can "tag" one of them with her hand to trade roles. However, the babysitter is confused and goes to the entertainment center to look for a DVD or a video game named "Tag." What phenomenon could be responsible for this confusion?

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon responsible for this confusion is the commercialization of leisure. The babysitter has been exposed to the idea that entertainment comes in a tangible form, like a DVD or video game, rather than a simple outdoor activity. This mindset has been created by the commercialization of leisure, where companies market products and experiences as the ultimate way to spend one's free time. This has led to a decline in the value placed on simple outdoor activities, like tag, leading to confusion when the babysitter is asked to participate in such an activity.

Question 10

In August of 2009, the Newbury Astronomical Society held a "Twitter Meteorwatch," posting photographs of the Perseid meteor shower as well as tweets about what was going on in the night sky as it happened. This represented a remarkable new expansion of:

Accepted Answer

The "Twitter Meteorwatch" represents a new expansion of spectatorship in that it allows individuals to observe and engage with astronomical events in real-time, even if they are not physically present. Social media platforms like Twitter have enabled a wider audience to participate in and follow events that were previously limited to a narrow group of experts or enthusiasts.

Question 11

Why should leisure not be treated as a minor and unimportant topic?

Accepted Answer

Leisure and recreation absorb a significant amount of time, energy, and resources, making them important aspects of life that should not be overlooked.

Question 12

How has the principle of the free press as a voice of the people been watered down since the founders guaranteed it in the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Conglomeration and media concentration have led to the concentration of media ownership in the hands of a few corporations, leading to a decrease in the diversity of voices and viewpoints in the media. This has watered down the principle of a free press as a voice of the people.

Question 13

A typical media conglomerate is most likely to include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A media conglomerate typically includes various forms of media such as publishing, broadcasting, and entertainment companies. While a sports franchise could be included in a media conglomerate, a restaurant chain would not be typically considered a form of media.

Question 14

Seagram's, a company best known for its gin, also owns Universal Records. This is an example of what trend in the media industry?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of conglomeration in the media industry, where companies own multiple types of media companies or businesses in different industries.

Question 15

During the first decade of the twenty-first century, daily newspapers were in trouble all across the country, many having closed and many others poised to do so. This worried some scholars who believed that newspapers are vital for maintaining:

Accepted Answer

Newspapers play a crucial role in providing citizens with the information they need to participate in the democratic process. Without newspapers, citizens may be uninformed about important issues and may not be able to make informed decisions when voting or participating in other civic activities. Therefore, the potential loss of newspapers is a significant threat to democracy.

Question 16

Americans seem to have much more choice about which media to consume than in the past. Why is this choice deceptive?

Accepted Answer

Many different media outlets are owned by just a few large conglomerates. For example, Disney owns ABC, ESPN, and several other networks, while Comcast owns NBC Universal, Universal Studios, and several other networks. This means that even though consumers may feel like they have a lot of choices, in reality, they are often being fed similar content from a small number of media owners.

Question 17

On ESPN.com, men's college basketball is presented as "college basketball," while women's college basketball is called "women's college basketball" and shares a web page with women's professional basketball. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The labeling and webpage arrangement suggest that men's college basketball is the default or norm, while women's college basketball is an addition that requires specific identification. This reinforces the idea of inequality between men and women's sports.

Question 18

Reading a book you checked out from the library might seem to be an example of a recreational activity that is totally uncommercialized, but it is still directly connected to commercial activity and work because:

Accepted Answer

People were paid to write, edit, print, ship, and shelve the book. Even though the activity of reading a library book may seem non-commercial, it is still directly connected to commercial activity and work through the production and distribution of the book.

Question 19

Why is free time (nonwork time) not necessarily leisure time?

Accepted Answer

Leisure time is defined as the time when we are free to engage in activities of our choice without any obligation or pressure. It implies the ability to make choices and do what we enjoy doing. However, having free time does not necessarily mean it is leisure time if one lacks the freedom to choose what they want to do. For example, if someone spends their free time catching up on work that they couldn't finish during work hours, it would not be considered leisure time. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Question 20

Leisure and work are complementary activities. What links them together?

Accepted Answer

Consumption links leisure and work together because the goods and services consumed during leisure time are often the result of work. This creates a cycle where work funds leisure activities, and leisure activities drive demand for more work in various industries.

Quiz 13: Leisure and Media