COURSE STRUCTURE
This topic furthers the understanding of the practice of sporting mapping; the use of the sociological imagination in making linkages between sport and society. Specifically, it focuses on the relationship between sport and the political dimensions of contemporary existence. Politic hereby being understood as the structures, processes, and practices of governance; and political power being the ability to control, shape, and regulate people's lives. The focus of the discussion is the relationship between sport and the neoliberal political order, specifically as it is manifest in the role of sport as a form of ideological state apparatus that helps normalize and reinforce the core views and values of neoliberalism
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1. LECTURE
For six slides per page format (for printing) click : HERE
For one slide per page format (for viewing on computer) click: HERE
For Fall 2015, click here for a podcast that covers the information that we did not get to in lecture.
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2. REQUIRED READINGS
It is expected that you will complete these readings following Wednesday lectures and in preparation for discussion section tasks/assignments.
In addition, within the Module 1 exam, you should expect to be asked questions on the following readings:
Reading II: DeMause, N. (2011). Why Do Mayors Love Sports Stadiums? Public subsidies for sports facilities are a great deal for everyone involved—except the public. The Nation, 14-17.
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3. VIDEO CLIPS
Some of these video clips will be viewed during lecture. However, you are expected to view those not shown in lecture in preparation for both the discussion section and exam related to this topic:
Video Clip 2: Invocation at the Nashville 300 NASCAR race at the Nashville Superspeedway, July 23, 2011.
Video Clip 3: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Stadiums, July 12, 2015.
Video Clip 6: An MSNBC Now With Alex Wagner segment "Olympians Journey from Food Stamps to Sochi", February 17, 2014.
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4. 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 in preparation for both the discussion section and exam related to this topic:
Sportization of Politics or the Politicization of Sport
Macro and micro politics
Macro Politics as a system of societal governance and control
Political Formations/Systems and Ideology, and Hegemony
Hegemony as Shaping/Winning of Popular Consent
Ideological (and Repressive) State Apparatus and Sport
Soft and Hard Power/Coercive and Consensus Politics
Politics, the Mass Media, and Sport and Manufacturing Consent
Neoliberal Capitalism in the US
Social Welfare Democracy: Increased State Involvement in Social Sector
The Liberal Roots of Neoliberalism
Upward and Downward Models of Wealth Redistribution
Government Retrenchment/Free-Market
Commercial Corporatization and Privatization
Trickle Down Economics and Rising Boats
Meritocracy and Competitive Individualism
Neoliberal Biopolitics, the Citizen-Consumer, and Entrepreneurs of the Self
Neoliberal Sport as ISA
The Marketization/Commercialization of Sport and Sporting Bodies
Sport Consumption and Teaching/Normalizing Neoliberal Values
The Neoliberal Sport Stadium and Trickle Down Economics
Private-Public Investment Partnerships, Private Revenue Streams
Sport Stadium/Event Funding and Regressive Taxation
The Persuasiveness of Sporting Neoliberalism, Olympic and Otherwise
Neoliberal Sporting Bio-Politics
Sporting Individualism over Collectivism
The Sporting Meritocracy
Rugged Sporting Individualism: Competitive, Responsible, Rational
Sport Stars as Neoliberal Pedagogues
Three Political/Olympic Formations
Sport as a Normalizing Agent for the Hegemonic Neoliberal Formation
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5. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Following the lecture, and having read the assigned readings and watch relevant video clips, you are encouraged to answer a series of discussion questions related to this topic which can be accessed HERE.
These questions require that you engage and extend the information covered within each theme, in order to generate a better understanding of core concepts, knowledge, and issues.
These questions are intended as preparation for both the discussion section and exam related to this topic.
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6. ESSAY QUESTION #2 (this is an option for the mandatory Module 1 essay)
To what extent, and in what ways, has your involvement in sport or physical culture (either as or participant or spectactor) politicized you in relation to the views and values of the dominant neoliberal order?
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):
Caffrey, K. (2008). Olympian Politics in Beijing: Games but not Just Games. The
international Journal of the history of sport, 25(7), 807-825.
Mobley, A. (2008). Sharing the dream: The opening ceremonies of Beijing. Journal of
Sport and Social Issues, 32(4), 327-332.
Friedman, J.M. (2007, September 1). U.S. Funding of Olympic athletes a private and
community affair. America.gov.
Retrosi, S. (2014, February 10). Why the Olympics Are a Lot Like ‘The Hunger
Newman, J. I., & Giardina, M. D. (2010). Neoliberalism's Last Lap? NASCAR Nation
and the Cultural Politics of Sport. American Behavioral Scientist, 53(10), 1511-1529.
Booker, K. M. (1994). Rollerball. In Dystopian literature: A theory and research
guide (pp. 349-353). London: Greenwood Press.
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 (via the ELMS/Canvas website) your Module 1 Essay is 11.59pm ET on Friday October 23.
Important: The ELMS/Canvas website will not accept essays after the due time and date.
In order to receive feedback from your TA, you can submit a draft version of your essay up to and including 10.00pm ET Friday October 9.
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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