Adventure Paradigm – A Postmodern Perspective

Steve Lewis

Abstract

The concept of adventure has been in the thinking and discussions of academics and proponents of outdoor education for many decades. More recent contributions to the literature have sought to highlight the development of what appears to be a manufactured adventure experience driven by a commercial incentive, a ‘Macdonaldisation’ of adventure. This presentation seeks to question the authenticity of this more recent approach to the adventure experience. Essential components of adventure are discussed and an argument suggesting the omission of such components from this post-modern approach to adventure is presented. It is also developed to suggest that doing so undermines the intrapersonal and other personal benefits of genuine risk-taking and uncertainty of outcome as by-products of authentic adventure. Such adventure it is suggested should be framed within a context of nature and seen as having a distinct relevance to the development of young people and continued to be included within outdoor education programmes. This is against what seems to be a societal preoccupation with risk aversion and perhaps over indulgence in health and safety regulations.

MA Outdoor Education
Trinity College, Wales