Society is formed around complex foundations composed of diverse distinctions such as class, race, age, sex and so on. Among such axes of distinctions, this study focuses on that of class. Even though the area of leisure consumption plays an important...
Society is formed around complex foundations composed of diverse distinctions such as class, race, age, sex and so on. Among such axes of distinctions, this study focuses on that of class. Even though the area of leisure consumption plays an important role in understanding social discourse of 'distinction' between classes, hardly any discussion has been carried out about the subject in the academic field of leisure or tourism. Thus regarding the mode of leisure consumption, it is worthwhile to confirm through empirical research whether boundaries in cultural tastes exist between classes.
For this purpose, the questions raised are as follows: First, are there typified differences in mode of leisure consumption among classes in Korean society? Second, if any, what are their causes? Third, between inherited cultural capital and acquired cultural capital, which has greater relative influence on leisure consumption? Fourth, in the case of inherited cultural capital, cultural capital of which parent has greater influence on the mode of leisure consumption?
In relation to these questions, logical connection of classes and mode of leisure consumption was found in P. Bourdieu's Theory of Cultural Capital, and economic capital and cultural capital which are possessed capital of the class were deduced as decisive elements creating differences in the mode of leisure consumption. In particular, cultural capital is the focal element that demonstrates distinctions in mode of leisure consumption between classes that cannot be explained by existing economic capital.
For empirical analysis, this study used two sources of data.: is the 'Survey on Leisure Behavior', which was carried out by the researcher targeted at 1,100 employees working around Seoul City. and 2004 'Social Statistics Survey' conducted by the Korea National Statistical Office.
Research results showed distinctions between classes existed in almost all modes of leisure consumption, and with each class possessing their own identities.
Bourdieu's theory that the position of each class division set along separate hierarchies was found closely linked with the education level, and that approach to corresponding type (genre) that takes the highest status in the hierarchy of cultural traditions -preference of TV program which are modes of daily leisure consumption and core media culture, and newspaper article, genre of reading activities, sports activities, culture and arts activities, tourism activities- are ranked according to economic and cultural capitals possessed by the class, also proved to be true for Korea as well.
Second, it was revealed that cultural capital influences almost all modes of leisure consumption. Both high leisure and popular leisure differ according to times, region and society or culture. Therefore if approachability to high leisure, which is at the moment closely linked with economic capital, becomes easier, their mode of leisure consumption will depend solely on cultural capital. When participation cost for such mode of leisure consumption becomes lower, the influence of cultural capital will become even greater.
Third, as for relative influence between inherited cultural capital and acquired cultural capital, it was shown that the influence of acquired cultural capital was a greater for vital force determining most mode of leisure consumption. However, some modes of leisure consumption particularly those of international tourism, showed exerting greater influence of inherited cultural capital.
Fourth, the parental relative influences according to their education level in terms of inherited cultural capital are as follows: Regarding influence of cultural capital of parents for direct measurement of inherited cultural capital, the motherly education level proved to be greater. This result might be mutually compared in identical statistical model. On the other hand, even though direct mutual comparison is impossible, father's influence proved to be a little higher for particular activities such as golf courses, golf practice range, and some areas of culture and arts (number of visiting place, popular concerts, classical music concerts). In all other areas, mother's influence was found greater. Therefore, in the case of indirect measurement, it would be more valid to take motherliness rather than paternity as determining factor.
Fifth, directly measured inherited cultural capital showed similar results in all areas. This result suggests that instead of using present indirect measurement of education level, it would be preferable to adopt direct measurement method as in this study.
Finally author would like to put forward following recommendations.
First, the concept of 'cultural capital' currently considered only in cultural sociology field might be better embraced by and actively reflected into leisure Science, which only deal with 'education level as a variable'. Present Leisure studied and Tourism need to raised above narrow-minded views that economic capital can only have an effect on mode of leisure consumption when the education level of the parents in addition to that of the subject are considered. They will be able to properly understand the differences in activities of leisure consumer and tourists when they adopt 'the concept of cultural capital'.
Second, in existing Cultural Sociology, discussions about relative influence of economic and cultural capital have advanced to a degree. However, studies on relative influences regarding inherited cultural capital and acquired cultural capital, which compose the cultural capital, are still insufficient. The results of this study carried out in order to search into such insufficiency, confirmed that even though the total of the cultural capital may be the same, the influences of inherited cultural capital and acquired cultural capital differed according to the mode of leisure consumption. In addition, this study also presents solution directions to problems that appear in indirect measurement of cultural capital in existing Sociology. In other words, when directly measuring 'cultural capital', this study suggests whose education level to take into consideration between the cultural capital of the mother and father. Most existing studies on cultural capital (especially in Korea) take indirect measurement of inherited cultural capital through father's education level, under the groundless assumption that father's education is superior to that of the mother. However, actual study results confirmed that it is more appropriate to use mother's education level rather than that of the father, for indirect measurement of cultural capital.
Measurement of cultural capital still remains in the realm of indirect measurement, and even direct measurement attempted in some western researches are very limited in it's uses. Furthermore, when considering issues recently appearing in Korea such as education inflation, general measurement items for cultural capital used in this study might be useful.