Did Marx have a theory of leisure?

Abstract

Marxist approaches are exerting a growing influence in the field of leisure study, yet the basis for these ventures in Marx's own writings is not always made clear. This paper examines Marx's work and submits that it does contain a theory of leisure. Marx's view of leisure in capitalist society derives from his examination of the class struggle, damaged sociability, commodity fetishism and reification. It also includes a provisional outline of leisure relations under communism. In this paper, Marx's writings on leisure in capitalist and communist societies are compared and the critical tensions between them elucidated.