J-Term at Carthage

J-Term 2011

The Sociology of Adventure
Students explore society's 'Adventure Movement' in sociology course

Feb. 2, 2011

In the Sociology of Adventure J-Term course, taught by sociology professor Stephen Lyng, students explored the intricate expansion of adventurous activities in society, and whether or not this expansion leads to an increase in risk.

"Some people make their entire life an adventure. Anything in human experience can be an adventure depending on how it is configured."

— Prof. Stephen Lyng

With an increase in enabling technology and a popular culture that emphasizes living to the extreme, the late 20th century has seen an adventure movement. From skydiving to mountain climbing, adventure has become glorious. Prof. Lyng led students on an academic quest to research this growing trend.

Lyng has written on the subject professionally. His book, Edgework: The Sociology of Risk Taking, was published in 2005. This is largely the reason why he started to teach the class.

Though adventure may be popular, Prof. Lyng asked students to question how risk is associated with adventure. The students’ goal was to determine whether or not risk increases as a result of the adventure movement, and then decide if risk has positive or negative implications.

As an alternative to high-risk adventure, Prof. Lyng offered an alternative sort of adventure. He had the class read the author George Zimmel, one of the important social theorists of the 20th century. Zimmel "talks about the way in which some people make their entire life an adventure," Lyng said, adding that he agrees with this point of view. "Anything in human experience can be an adventure depending on how it is configured."

Student Brian Huntsinger, '14, of Glendale, Wis., said that he took the class because he is "interested in adventure and wanted to gain a better grasp on what adventure truly is. The biggest thing I will take away from Sociology of Adventure is the fact that adventure can be found in a wide variety of places."

Nina Grudt, '13, of Island Lake, Ill., and Hannah Shields, '14, of Cedar Lake, Ind., shared similar opinions.

"I am learning that adventure can be found in many activities that I never even thought of before," said Hannah.

"The one main thing I will take away is that adventure just needs to have meaning to the adventurer," added Nina. "That's what makes a true adventure. I think people can take that and apply it to their lives and try to make meaning in all they do."

— Steve Horton, '11, Student Writer