COURSE STRUCTURE
Focuses on the political, cultural, economic, and spatial dimensions of global sport mega-events/ spectacles. Illustrated how sport spectacles such as the Olympic Games and World Cup have a significant impact on international relations and politics, and specifically the position and influence of nations within the international community of nations. Introduces the notion of soft power, and its relation to public
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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 on the SUBCULTURES 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 3 exam, you should expect to be asked questions on the following readings:
Reading I: Breivik, G. (2010). Trends in adventure sports in a post-modern society. Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics, 13(2), 260 - 273.
Reading II: Higgins, M. (2009, January 22). Rough waves, tougher beachers. The
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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 1: Guardian video feature focused on Texas Roller Derby.
Video Clip 2: News feature from "Under the Pink Carpet" focused on the Bingham Cup, gay rugby tournament.
Video Clip 3: National Geographic feature on the base jumper, Dean Potter.
Video Clip 4: A short film on the endurance runner, Jez Bragg, and his record breaking journey running the length of New Zealand.
Video Clip 5: A promotion film for the “My Playground: A Film About Movement in Urban Space” documentary film.
Video Clip 6: A YouTube film focused on tomb stoning in Plymouth Harbour, England.
Video Clip 8: CBS Inside Edition story focused on alley cat racing.
Video Clip 11: An alley cat racing even sponsored by Red Bull.
Video Clip 12: Brief clips from the “Yoga Inc.” (2006) documentary, focused on the commercialization and commodification of yoga.
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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:
Subcultures as Social Collectivities/Groupings
The Dimensions of Subculture and Subcultural Formations
Insider/Outsider Subcultural Status/Membership
Counter, Resistant, and Deviant Subcultures
Subcultural Boundaries, Commitment, and Boundary Maintenance
Spectating and Participatory Sport Subcultures
Roller Derby as a Counter Subcultural Formation
Gay Sport Subcultures as Progressive Cultural/Political Resistance
Lifestyle/Alternative Sport Subcultures
The Dynamics of Subcultural Identity
Seeking an Alternative to the Disciplinary Regimes of Traditional Sport
Alternative/Lifestyle Sports and the New Expressive Individualism
The elements of “California” Sports
Sporting Involvement, Lifestyle, and Self-Identity
Deriving Subcultural Capital and Subcultural Status
Sporting Subculture’s Gender Conundrum
Risk and Adventure Sports and Alternative Lifestyle Cultures
Risk Society and Control
The Contradictions of Risk Society
Risk Sports as Oppositional Acts
The Quest for Excitement in Unexciting Societies
Low (Pre-Modern), High (Modern), and Risk (Post-Modern) Societies
The Embodied Paradox of (Post)Modernity
Managing and Controlling Risk and Subcultural Status
The Social/Pyshcological Positives of Risk
Risk Sport and the Upper/Middle Class
Working Class Quests for Excitement, Freedom, and Control
Surf Subculture Ethos
Boundary Maintenance and Surfing Subculture Status
Surfing and Sub-Cultural Localism and Territorialism
Work-Leisure, Work-Life Distinctions
Occupational Identity and Leisure Identity
The Common Experiences of Cycle Messengering
Cycle Messengering and Transcending Work-Leisure Differences
The Presentation of the Cycle Messenger Self
Replicating Work Outside of Work
The Negatives and Positives of Cycle Messenger Subculture
The Colonization of Subcultural Cool
Mainstream Incorporation and Commercial Colonization
Skateboarding as Contested Subculture/Space
Yoga’s Subcultural Fragmentation and Divide
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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.
PLEASE NOTE: There are no formal discussion sections for Monday November 23 and Wednesday November 25. Instead you will be expected to post your answers to the two discussion questions on an online CANVAS forum.
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6. ESSAY QUESTION #9 (this is an option for the Module 3 essay)
To what extent, and in what ways, do contemporary sport subcultures offer an alternative to the sporting mainstream? In answering this question, you can refer to one, or more, sport subcultures.
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):
Anderson, K. L. (1999). Snowboarding: The construction of gender in an emerging sport. Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 23(1), 55-79.
Carlson, J. (2010). The Female Signifiant in All-Women's Amateur Roller Derby. Sociology of Sport Journal, 27(4), 428-440.
Daskalos, C. T. (2007). Locals only! The impact of modernity on a local surfing context. Sociological Perspectives, 50(1), 155-173.
Fincham, B. (2008). Balance is Everything: Bicycle Messengers, Work and Leisure. Sociology, 42(4), 618-634.
Langseth, T. (2011). Risk sports – social constraints and cultural imperatives. Sport in Society, 14(5), 629-644.
Lewis, C. S. (2008). Life chances and wellness: Meaning and motivation in the "yoga market". Sport in Society, 11(5), 535-545.
Wheaton, B. (2000). "Just do it": Consumption, commitment, and identity in the windsurfing subculture. Sociology of Sport Journal, 17(3), 254-274.
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 2 Essay is 11.59pm ET on Monday December 14.
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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