Volume 78 - Special Edition - ARTICLE II - 2008 FIEP BULLETIN Introduction Leisure has been the focus of countless studies on contemporary society. This is due mostly to the strong correlation among leisure activities and quality of life and the social development of individuals. Although it is impossible to precisely foresee the starting point of concerning about leisure activities, it is known that those have accompanied man ever since the beginning of humankind. Although leisure has been the focus of studies in different areas, it should be studied from the precept that man is a biophysicosocial being, and his biological, psychological and sociological characteristics cannot be dissociated. An investigation concerning leisure can reveal several characteristics that show the social and cultural context of a society. Eventually leisure is conceived as a synonym of free time, nevertheless, such proposition is not true. Leisure activities are practiced during free time, but free time is not completely fulfilled with activities characterized as leisure (ELIAS; DUNNING, 1992). The present paper has as objective to carry out an analogy among different leisure conceptions, in the most varied epochs and in different societies, aiming at a better comprehension of leisure studies in contemporary society. Concepts of leisure According to Elias and Dunning (1992), leisure is defined as an activity freely practiced with no wages involved, and which brings a pleasant and delightful sensation to the one who practices it. Following Elias and Dunning's distinction of leisure and free time, to better specify, it is possible to mention leisure as “culture, comprehended in its broader sense, experienced or practiced in the available time” (MARCELINO in REIS; SOARES, 2006, p.02). Based on this statement, it is perceptible that a leisure activity is any activity that provides pleasure in a free time away from work. On this sense, Dumazedier (in Reis and Soares, 2006, p.02) states that leisure can be defined as: [...] a group of occupations to which an individual may surrender freely, either to rest, have fun, recreation, entertainment or, yet, to develop information or disinterested formation, his voluntary social participation or free creative capacity, after being dismissed or released from professional, familiar or social duties. The denomination “leisure” has been used for very long already, and along the centuries, it has presented distinct conceptions, varying not only according to time, but indeed from society to society, being characterized in each situation with its respective particularities. Such particularities, with proper changes, are adjusted and provide the conception of leisure in the nowadays society. The full meaning of leisure is not limited to only using free time, but it is also related to the achievement of human being aspirations. In this sense, it is possible to state that: Leisure practices are not only rituals of pauses before returning to practical life or work, but yet they should exist with roots that plunge in historical-anthropological deepness, which refers to human being in his nature, keeping knowledge production, discussion and systematizing as a central axle […]. In fact, our social context, impregnated by violence, exclusion, unemployment and prejudices, has put aside all and every possibility of experiencing leisure practices in its fullness (FRANÇA; CAVALCANTI, 2002, p.06). In a synthesis to this idea, it is perceptible that only “having leisure available to enjoy will not improve quality of life, unless the person knows how to use it effectively; leisure is not something that one learn how to do automatically” (CSIKSZENTMIHALYI in FRANÇA; CAVALCANTI, 2002, p.06). Almeida and Gutierrez (2005) understand leisure as a way to relief tensions occasioned by contemporary life style, seeing it as an essential and enabling factor to live in society. Another aspect strongly correlated with leisure activities is the sports practice. Frequented in clubs or proper environments for such activities, leisure practice under physical education and sports field, can be seen as: [...] possibilities of moments to fully express body, which should collaborate in the development of human potentialities, exactly for its diversity and transcendence, should be manifestations that reinforce complexity and the human dimension that attends, practice and live such moment (FRANÇA; CAVALCANTI, 2002, p.05). Despite the concepts of leisure are a great number, it is perceptible that the authors manifest unanimity that leisure activities should be practiced during free time, and that they provide some feeling of achievement and pleasure to the individual who practices it. Leisure in societies The habit of experiencing leisure suffers considerable changes from time to time, from society to society. According to Gonçalo (2002), the search for leisure is present in societies in every stage of development. However, the feeling occasioned by leisure is limited by restrictions imposed by civilization. It should be understood that the search for leisure in distinct societies is characterized by limiting factors imposed by society itself, which explains the different forms of practicing it. In ancient times, the Roman and Greek people would base their leisure activities in competitions and games. The nobler classes would behave as viewers of competitions between fighters or gladiators that would battle till death. Nowadays, some features of that culture still remains, even if in terms of a less devastating version, such as cockfighting and bullfighting (STURION; CABRAL, 2007). It should be emphasized that, in the mentioned period, leisure was part of only the privileged minority of society that would have high acquisitive power. This situation is maintained for centuries, until a remarkable fact starts a revolution, not only technological, but also cultural. During the industrial revolution period, the long and exhausting work journeys forced workers to claim for better work 20 5 - CONCEPTIONS OF LEISURE: A HISTORICAL APPROACH ON SOCIETIES 1,2 BRUNO PEDROSO ; 2 LUIZ ALBERTO PILATTI ; 2 HÉLIO GOMES DE CARVALHO . 1. PIBIC/CNPq; 2. UTFPR - Ponta Grossa - PR - Brasil brunops3@brturbo.com.br