Subcultural Production, Reproduction and Transformation in Climbing

Abstract

In the first part, the paper examines the constitution of climbing as a play-like activity with respect to the physical environment, hazard and jeopardy, and the social construction of a standard of jeopardy sufficient for different environments. Second, the social production of the activity prior to 1865 is considered in terms of completing an ascent, and the production of the activity as a sport after 1865 in terms of completing an ascent the hard way. Third, the social reality of climbing is discussed as being reproduced with a shared framework of concepts and experience. Fourth, social transformation within the subculture of climbing is considered in terms of raising doubt, negotiating the standard of jeopardy, and the practice of individualism as limited by social constraints.

The Experience of Risk in High-Altitude Climbing

“…These opinions are in accordance with other studies (De Leseleuc, 1997;Williams & Donnelly, 1985) in which participants assert that they would not do such an activity if there was no risk. Accepting risk in activities like climbing might be connected with the development of a personal meaning of risk (Fuster i Matute & Agurruza, 1995), since we live in a society where everything is done to make it more-and-more safe (Le Breton, 2000).…”

“…As Williams and Donnelly (1985) assert, risk is a constitutive element in climbing, though vast in its ambiguous conceptions. Thus, in this study the risk concept is used in a limited perspective; namely, how risk is per- Table I. ceived individually and taken as a free choice by alpinists.…”

Contesting authentic practice and ethical authority in adventure tourism

“…While inexperienced climbers noted recognition, escape, and social reasons as motivation, experienced climbers described more intrinsic reasons, specifically 7 exhilaration, challenge, personal testing, decision-making, and locus of control. Thus, it is not surprising that these adventure tourism communities are riddled with internal divisions and subcultures related to style of use and ethics (see Williams & Donnelly, 1985;Heywood, 1994;Kiewa, 2002;Wheaton, 2004Wheaton, , 2007 and that they compete over access to outdoor recreational resources (see, for example, Scott, 1994).…”

“He Didn't Go in Doing a Skydive”: Sustaining the Illusion of Control in an Edgework Activity

“…A small number of sociologists have taken up the project of investigating various risk sports (e.g., Ferrell et al, 2001;Hunt 1995;Kay and Laberge 2004;Kusz 2004;Rinehart and Sydnor 2003;Williams and Donnelly 1985). Hunt (1995), for example, examines the ways deep sea divers learn accounts of "normal risk" in the sport through interactions with other divers as they construct their subcultural identities.…”