Social Value of Waves and Surfing – Experience presented by Taha AL AZZAWI
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Transcript of Social Value of Waves and Surfing – Experience presented by Taha AL AZZAWI
SOCIAL VALUE OF WAVES
T.AL AZZAWI
Professeur agrégéMaster of Sociologie
Consultant for EUROSIMAIndependent searcher
Andy DAVIS
Andy DAVIS
Fontain La Corugna, SPAIN
The Internet source comment: « surf statues in La Coruna, why? it's not obvious »
The iconic surfer, Steamer Lane,
California
Surfer statue in California: it seems to be obvious: why?
PLAN
� - INTRODUCTION� - 1. Surfriding: different kind of surfers, and different perceptions of the spots
� - 2. Waves in local political strategies.
� - 3. Mechanism of distinction of a spot.
� - 4. Different actors and tensions around patrimonialisation.
� CONCLUSION.
INTRODUCTION: the concept of
heritage
� - l'engagement interdisciplinaire du concept� - appliqué au champ sportif: pose la question
de la légitimité
MATERIAL AND IMMATERIAL HERITAGE
Well estabished as a part of the common Culture that we must forward to new generations
Historians, Archeolgists
The intelligentsia (experts,teachers, journalists)
A local, national or world-wide population
Politicians, institutions
Boons, works of art, richnesses of the Humanity
Patrimonialisation process:« Distinction»
Maecenas, private patrons
Actions:ConservationRestoration Touristical management
The last french sociological
inquiries
- Colloque in PAU(FRANCE) in september 2011 about the patrimonialisation process of natural spaces
- Main topics: � The diversity of heritages� The social value of natural spaces� The heritage value and the institutions
The patrimonialisation process
« The patrimonialisation can be definite as appropriation processes developped by several actors or social groups . They increase some objects values (remembrance, aesthetics, singularity) permitting these objects to conqueer the quality of heritage.(...)
Blockhaus remaining of second world war (Charente maritime, FRANCE)
Is it an heritage?
Evolution of the concept
The patrimonialisation process has been related with very recent objects. Now the limits between past and present are low. The new heritage elements are more and more varying:
- nature
- monuments
-vernacular
- landscape
- local culture
Saint palais sur mer beach (Charente Maritime, FRANCE)
Unknown touristical landscapes
Gallician beach (SPAIN)
Different sociological methods
- Interactionnism (E.GOFFMAN, Chicago School)
- Structuralism (C.LEVI STRAUSS)
- Functionnalism (B.MALINOWSKY)
- Déterminism (P.BOURDIEU, P.CHAMPAGNE)
Heritage: a definition
- Can be considered by a human community a cultural object whose values are linked in the past and the present. It concerns concrete elements or practices that we want to preserve and transmit.
The process of
patrimonialisation applied to
surfriding (E.AMOUGOU,2011)
- The discover (P.VIERTEL)
- The certification ( French Fédération1964, sport denomination)
- The geographical roots(Hawaï,Polynesy... and else)
- The mediatisation(magazines,books)
- Celebration (big events, Surf Fesivals)
- Transmission(schools and clubs)
13
THE DEFINITIONS OF SURFRIDING
• From a fashion sport practice to several surf practices.
14
SURFRIDING AS A RESEARCH OBJECT
SURFRIDING MEANS
A federal sport (J.DEFRANCE, P.PARLEBAS)
An outdoor activity (C.POCIELLO)
An action sport (D.LEBRETON, A.LORET, A.STRILER)
A boardcross actvity (EUROSIMA)
A beach activity, with a touristical value (C.GUIBERT)
A free and rebel activity (A.S.SAYEUX)
Sport institutions Medias
Economy
POLITIC
A glamorous sport
ARTS
An inspiration
1 The surfers in France
- 1.A. The surf among other sports France.- 1.B. Different surfriding styles.-1.C. The spots: economical and conflicts ressources.
The surf among the other sports
- 43rd rank in France (0,5%) IPSOS 2007 and around 8000 competitors
- Windsurfing at the 41th rank
- Skate board at the 35th rank
- Climbing at the 30th rank
- Kite surf at the 47th rank
Sport practice in Europe(Source : European
Observatoire of Sport Employment / 2005)
1 Finland 12 %
2 Sueden 22,2 %
3 Danemark34 %
4 Irland 16,3 %
5 Nethelands 29,5 %
6 United Kingdom 15 %
7 France 25 %
The social space theory
(P.BOURDIEU)
- For professions and political opinions
- For lifestyles and ludic activities
- Also applied to all the Cultural studies
19
Social space (P.BOURDIEU1979)
Economical capital +
Cultural capital +
economical capital less
cultural capital less)
Specialized worker
High schoolProfessors, teachers, ingeneers
Children teachers
Public sector manager
Tradesman
Industry manager
Chairman
Private sector manager
Medical and social serviceCulture business employees
craftsman, art gallerists
Trade employees
Department or office employees
ingenieers
Doctors, lawyer
Qualified worker
Journeyman, agricultural worker
Little traders
Farmers
Assistant manager,secretary
jobless
journalist
20
P.BOURDIEU's postulates
- There is a correlation between professionnal space and cultural practice space
- The upper classes dictate the « good » tastes and the norms.
21
What's surfriding?
- a spiritual, cultual practice
- a recreation
- a sport
The Bishop Museum
22
economical capital +
cultural capital less
cultural capital +
Just the body to practice
Technologisation
MotorisationEcologisation
BODYSURF cloth to the beach
Bodyboard flipperless
Minimalibu de type « bic
Tow in in different size waves
THE SURFS
6'0 trifinshortboard
Hawaïan, stand up and canoe
No fin board, woodboards, expert bodysurf
Retro surfboards, unleash riding
longboardsBodyboard : a good level with a quality morey
Low cost Bodyboard with flipper
Self learning
Particular teacher, private surfschools
Learning thanks to friends, family, associations
Learning in a FFS club
Shortboard intermédiaire de loisir
THE SURFRIDING SPACE (AL AZZAWI 2010)
23
The involvment degrees of
surfers
1: the surf absolute lifestyle
2: surfing as a passion
3: surfing as a sport
4: surfing is a ponctual beach activity
Sessions frequency
More than 250/year
Between 150 and 250
Between 50 and 150
From 12 to 50
Choice of the studies or the job
No job or a volonteer precariousness
A job cloth to the beach or studies concerning sport/surf
No influence on the choice
No influence on the choice
Family involvment
Avoiding couple and childs
Couple with concessions
No influence No influence
Different ways to practice surf
- The verbal definitions of surfing influence the way to practice
- The level and the way to practice determine the choice of a spot..
- The level, the fact to be local and the elderness settle the place at the peac.(cf.O.TREY1994, A.S.SAYEUX2009, AL AZZAWI 2010).
Practicing philosophies
(C.POCIELLO 1995)
Tourists
Competitors
Purists
Will to practice every day
Slowness, hésitation
Speed, energy
Aestetes, cult of coolness
Read VSD mag in june « spécial glisse »
Reading « surfer's journal » or « Desillusion »
Reading « surf session » and specialzed websites
Little easy waves, hot water, summer season only
Little and big wave, curly waves, technical spots
All kind of wave
Punctual practice
Various boards, retro shapes
Hawaïan traditionnal watersports
Direct relation with a shaper, important quiver important, a majority of shortboards
Mini malibu, BIC, bodyboard
Main stream surfCounter
culture surf
Free surf on a secret spot (Charente Maritime,
FRANCE)
Surf culture/heritage
CULTURE +
CULTURE less
material immaterial
Surfboard
Living place
Magazines Collection
Surfmovies DVD
Car: break or mini van
SUP, funboards, kayaksurf...
Style
Technical level
surftrips
Ocean knowledge
Knowledges about surf history
Ability to shape
Ability to teach surfing
Surfmovies as a culture
The spots exploitation stakes
- When they are discovered
- After debates between surfers, federal sport movment, politicians.
- After an economical evaluation( possible big events, bankable image?).
Possible conflicts on a spot
Involve shoartboarders and:
- bodysurfers-bodyboarders-kneeboarders- mini malibu/eggs-longboards-SUP
Concerns all the surfers and:- wave-ski- funboards- jet ski- kite surf- (body boards)
Surfers and:- Lifeguards- swimming tourists- mayoralty- French surfing federation- ASP, WQS, WCT- polluting persons
Surfers VS surfers Surfers VS other nautic apparatus(cf. O.TREY 1994)
Surfers VS other beach users
2 The waves in stake locally
� Thèse of C.GUIBERT(2005, Nantes)� Original title: « The surf univers and the
political stategies in Aquitaine: surftowns without surfers? »
Hossegor (FRANCE)
Conclusions of C.GUIBERT
- A.The surf is a « malleable »concept for each social actor.
- B.In a lot of surftowns, the « purists » are not considered, in the seaside appointment (parking,access, showers,etc.) .
- C.The surfer's welcome can be different, and is adapted to the identity of the spot, to his wave value.
- D.We observ huge differences between the welcom of pro surf, surfschools and free surf..
Exemple of two french towns
Surf as a tradition
ANGLET BIARRITZ
longboard
Historical beach town
Côte des Basques
Mediatisation of the 60's
Surf as an heritage
Biarritz surf festival
Architecture from the french Empire
Modern town
Recent beach and surftown
A lot of schools and clubs
The surf as a competition sport
shortboard
Surf as education for young childs
Limits to these conclusions
- They are based on a 2000-2005 survey , only in the south of the french atlantic coast.
- The french massification of surfing generates surfers who have access to institutions and politics more and more.
- The growth of some associations change the strategies of the international brands.
The 5 social values of a spot
- 1. Sportive, recreation site, for everybody, local or not (heritage?).
- 2.Place for the transmission of surf techniques, and surf educationnal values (modesty,effort, respect of the nature, priority rules).
- 3.Place where touristical activities and appointment can be developped (the image becomes bankable in touristical and communication strategies).
- 4.Possibility to host pro-level surfers and events (again bankable image).
- 5.Conflicts place between surfers and beach users.
The wave value
- Beachtowns lord mayors: if the wave attracts wealthy tourists, consumers, big events.
- The major brands: frequency, shape of the curl, infrastructures to host a competition.
- Surfers (beginners): easyness,accessibility, proximity of the surfschools.
- Purists surfers : perfect wave shape, secret spot, low frequentation.
- Competitors: idem except the frequentation.
An unknown example
La Bouverie (Charente maritime, FRANCE)
-
A decisive event
The overcrowded Pontaillac
3. The mechanism of legitimation
and distinction
Mechanism Distinction of a wave
Legitimation
items - frequency of the swell-shape of the wave-speed of breaking- accessibility.- temperature of the water
- history- international competition -mediatisation (ex: Belharra)- proximity of the surfers with the economical and political power.- surfguide good fame-surfbooks good fame
The distinction theory
( P.BOURDIEU,1979)
- Created after a sociological survey (1979)
- Applied to the surf sphere (Al azzawi 2010)
- Consequences: market sementation (cf.Sport Guide august 2011).
�
4. The waves : a recognition in stake
4.A.Low recognition: 1887, 1906,1930: « natural monument »..
4.B. The tensions between differents heritage zonage actors .
4.C. Recognition obstacles
AN EXAMPLE IN SWEDEN
Demonstration in march 2008 for Mölle wave
4.A. A «�NATURAL�»monument
-The wave/spot is a natural monument means: « landscape, or part of the territory as perceived by the population, whose characteristic results from natural factors or/and human interrelations ».
4.B. The initial tensions
between several social actors
development conservation
Departments,regions
Major brands and their beach-events
Fédérations sportives
Tourists Surfers
Competitor Surfers
Purists Surfers
Ecological associations
Natural heritage defenders
industries
4.B. The multiplication of the
tensions
DEVELOPMENT CONSERVATION
Concerted management
touristical exploitation
Educative use
Political use
commercial exploitation
?Mediatical use
4.C. Recognition: step by step...
- a)First struggle experiences (France : 1990's).- b)Structuration as associations, boards constitution; international exchanges- c)Ecological survey, constitution of a capital of scientifical knowledges..- d)Citizen concertations, links with the political power.- e)Mediatical struggle, image war (cf.SFE's manager CV).- f)Field of enquiry: balance between classical and static heritage, and sociallinkfull heritage (who allows projects and dynamics).
CONCLUSIONS:obstacles for
clear strategical arguments
- What's surf inside the global Culture? A subculture? A counterculture? A youthculture? Is it easy to accord him UNESCO recognition? Who are the other pretenders in2011?- Why oceanic landscapes are legitimate, lawfull?- Patrimonialisation : a complex process, including several actors, and and strategical planification.Who's really influent?- Tension between natural/cultural qualities of a site.- The notion of Culture is relative (cf. Denis CUCHE 2010)
What's the good analysis speed?
...............
BIBLIOGRAPHY: books
� - Surf Atlantique: les territoires de l'éphémère J.P.AUGUSTIN (1995)
� - L'univers du surf et stratégies politiques en Aquitaine. C.GUIBERT (2006)
� - Surfeurs, l'être au monde. A.S.SAYEUX (2008)
� - Les surfs: d'un pratique à la mode à des modalités de pratique. T.AL AZZAWI(2010).
� - L'image de la surfeuse T.AL AZZAWI (2012).
� - Les cultures sportives C.POCIELLO (1995).
� - Sciences sociales et patrimoine E.AMMOUGOU (2010).
� - La notion de culture en sciences sociales D.CUCHE (2004).
� - La distinction P.BOURDIEU (1979).
� - Les règles de l'art P.BOURDIEU (1981).
� - Sociologie de la culture Y.LAMY/M.BERRA (1991)
� - Révolte consommée J.HEALTH/A.POTTER (2010)
BIBLIOGRAPHY: articles
- C.GUIBERT:
Hossegor : « le surf » ou « l'élégance » ? Une double identification territoriale, Annales de la Recherche Urbaine, n°100, « L'avancée en âge dans la ville », Juin 2006, p.89-96.
Politiques de communication et identifications territoriales différenciées. Les usages politiques des vagues et de l'univers du surf par les municipalités de la côte Aquitaine. Téoros, Vol. 25-2, Québec. Eté 2006, p.62-71.
Les usages politiques du snowboard dans les stations de montagne françaises : entre intérêt économique et
dédain culturel, Revue Européenne de Management du Sport, n°15, Voiron, PUS. Octobre 2006, p.31-
44.
Le premier âge du surf en France : un sport socialement sélectif, Science et Motricité, n°61, vol. 200 7/2, de Boeck Université., Eté 2007, p.89-100.
Le surf au Maroc : les déterminants d'une ressource politique incertaine, Sciences Sociales et Sports, n°1, L'Harmattan. Septembre 2008, p.115-146.