Intervening with Deviant Leisure

• In Event: Deviant Leisure: Consuming Harm

Abstract

Studying ‘deviant leisure’ offers the critical criminologist fertile analytical ground through which to identify harmful commodified practices. As such it joins other subsections of criminology which point to culturally contradictory and contentious issues yet seemingly offer little by way of practical solutions outside of an overhaul of contemporary capitalist structures. In the time honoured tradition of such idealistic theories being followed by a turn towards realism, this paper considers the utility of attempting to intervene with deviant leisure in a bid to reduce associated harms. With reference to issues of the night-time economy and substance use, the paper identifies that the dichotomies of power, profit and reputation associated with deviant leisure industries make such actions a difficult (and demoralising) task.

Author

• Stuart Taylor, Liverpool John Moores University