Module 1 Topic A:
Sport and the Sociological Imagination
1. LECTURE
Course Introduction: HERE
For six slides per page format (for printing) click : HERE
For one slide per page format (for viewing on computer) click: HERE
2. VIDEO CLIPS
These video clips, unless otherwise advised, will be shown during lecture. They are made available here for revision purposes.
Video Clip 1: Final lap of men’s 10,000m race, London 2012 Olympic Games.
Video Clip 2: Promotional video for Extreme Ironing.
Video Clip 3: Discussion of Super Bowl as a Cultural and Media Spectacle.
Video Clip 4: Excerpts from Oprah Winfrey’s 2013 interview with Lance Armstrong.
Video Clip 5: Comedian Bill Burr discusses Lance Armstrong on Conan O’Brien
Video Clip 6: Clips from the documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster
Video Clip 7: Commercials selling performance-enhancement
3. REQUIRED READINGS
It is expected that you will complete these readings prior to the discussion sections, and that–where appropriate–you engage them within your classroom discussion.
Reading III: Lemieux, S. (2013, August 13). What the dumb hysteria over A-ROD and PED’s is really about. Deadspin.com.
4. THEMATIC REVIEW QUESTIONS
Given the volume of information provided in the classroom, you are strongly advised not to engage the material solely during lectures.
Rather, you are strongly encouraged to review each theme carefully on your own, following which you should test your knowledge and understanding by answering the Thematic Review Questions which can be accessed HERE.
5. KEY CONCEPTS
The following key concepts represent the core knowledge related to this topic, and you should ensure that you develop a thorough knowledge and understanding of them before moving on to the next topic:
The Importance of Critical and Theoretical Thinking
Competing Definitions of Sport
A Structured, Goal-Oriented, Competitive, and Ludic
Sport as/and Physical Culture
The Diversity of Physical Culture
The Active Body as Instrument and Object
Sport/Physical Culture as a Contested Terrain
Dominant, Residual, and Emergent Sport Practices
Competing Understandings of the Sport-Society Relation
Sporting Fetishization
The Sport-Society Dialectic
The Jigsaw Analogy
The Sporting Sociological Imagination
Sport Mapping: Interrelationships and Interconnections
6. DISCUSSION QUESTION/TASK #1
This question/task will be discussed in discussion sections on:
Monday September 15
Wednesday September 17
As discussed in lecture, sport exists within a contemporary American context that seemingly normalizes -- if not incentivizes (monetarily speaking) -- the use of performance enhancers in personal achievement. Why should we expect sport to be any different? Moreover, if we accept that (a) sport is already a profoundly unlevel ‘playing field’ based on the unequal advantages offered to some athletes/teams through sport science (e.g. fitness regimes, training facilities, nutritionists) and (b) athletes are already not wholly natural (everything from Lasik surgery to pain numbing injections to ‘Tommy John’ surgery), then perhaps performance-enhancing drugs should be permitted in sport under the supervision of doctors. Agree or disagree.
7. ESSAY QUESTION #1 (this is an option for the mandatory Module 1 essay)
Using your sporting sociological imaginations, discuss the dialectic relationship linking a contemporary sporting phenomenon as we did in class (i.e. our exploration of the performance enhancing drugs ‘problem’) with the broader forces (economic, political, cultural, and technological) shaping contemporary society. In other words, you need to map the complex interconnections between your chosen sporting phenomenon and contemporary society. However, you must think of an entirely new example than provided in class (so discussing the Olympic Games, intercollegiate sport, the NFL Super Bowl or performance enhancing drugs is off limits).
This essay should be a minimum of 1,500 words to answer it comprehensively.
You may find the following academic sources useful in completing this assignment. You do not have to use these sources, they are simply provided for you as an introduction to the literature, and you should use them where appropriate and/or relevant. Also, be warned, these readings do not count towards the THREE additional academic sources you are expected to use within your essays (however, they may direct you toward additional academic sources you could use).
Silk, M. (2011). Towards a Sociological Analysis of London 2012. Sociology, 45(5),
If you choose to complete this essay, and in addition to the sources provided on this page, you need to identify and use (either through paraphrasing or direct quotation) interpretations, insights, or information from a MINIMUM OF THREE appropriate academic sources (in addition to those provided for you on this website).
The deadline for submitting your Module 1 Essay is before class on Sunday October 19. In order to receive feedback from your TA, you can submit a draft version of your essay up to and including Sunday October 12.
Important: The ELMS/Canvas website will not accept essays after the due time and date.
Be sure to review the details on the module essay page. On that page you will find the EVALUATION CRITERIA for module essays (which you are strongly encouraged to read), you will also find links to the appropriate academic sources you should use when researching and writing your module essays, and the style and format guidelines you need to follow when completing module essays. All this information needs to be read, understood, and closely followed for you to succeed in this course.
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