The Need for Occupation

During this week’s tutorial we discussed the need for occupation in my chosen activity, cooking.

I essentially need to cook to survive and to provide my flat mates with regular nutritious meals. Another need it fills is the need to cook for friends as a gift – to invite them for a meal to celebrate a birthday or an act of sympathy, or for friendship. Both of these needs are what is known as ‘labour’ – the never ending cycle of life. Green (1968), refers to the endless cycle of “gathering and consuming”. (p. 17)

It is easier for me to bake cookies to take to friends rather than a meal. It is cheaper for me to bake as well as it is satisfying for me to produce something I enjoy eating to give away. Oldfield (2008) states that “It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into the doing”. (p. 5)

According to Johnston (2003), “baking for and with others can be highly satisfying and will build life long memories for the recipients of your offerings; and that sharing food with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours helps build stronger communities and can contribute a little to the mental health of our society.” (p. 6)

In this week’s tutorial we discussed the need for occupation and this is what we came up with through discussion, below.

Labour:

·         Survival- making a living

·         Feel a connection

·         Memories

·         Improving

·         Meditative

Work/ Craft:

·         Improving aesthetics.

Plays:

·         Need for beauty

·         Escape

·         Making a statement

·         Need for fun

Green, T. F. (1968). Work, leisure and the American schools. New York: Random House.

Oldfield, N. (2008). Gran's kitchen. Auckland: Beatnik

Johnston, A. (2003). A second helping. Auckland: Penguin Group.