Leisure <i>in Extremis</i> : A <i>Festschrift</i> for Karl Spracklen

This essay introduces the special issue theme (leisure in extremis), mode (a Festschrift), honoree Karl Spracklen, and (lastly) the essays that comprise this volume. A Festschrift is a publication that honors an academic, presented during their lifetime, with contributions from the honoree’s colleagues, friends and former students. We consider Karl’s work and leisure studies as a “worthwhile” pursuit that is theory-driven, meaningful within people’s lives and professions, and operating at the edges of the field at a critical time. The nine essays span Karl’s oeuvre, from extreme music cultures, to ‘northernness’, subcultures, social justice, real ale and whisky tourism, goth and dark leisure, sporting masculinities, rugby leagues, and events. The contributors engage with a ‘paradox of leisure’ characterized by freedom but also instrumental control, ‘communicative’ expression but also commodification, resistance and alternativity but also the erosion of its meaning and purpose. Throughout, we celebrate Karl’s work on leisure, in extremis.