1 / 20

Sport in Society: Issues & Controversies

Sport in Society: Issues & Controversies. Chapter 3 A Look at the Past: Does It Help Us Understand Sports Today?. History Lessons: Origins of Distorted Views. Who tells the stories about sports in the past? Whose perspectives are used to frame the stories?

tamayo
Download Presentation

Sport in Society: Issues & Controversies

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Sport in Society:Issues & Controversies Chapter 3 A Look at the Past: Does It Help Us Understand Sports Today?

  2. History Lessons: Origins of Distorted Views • Who tells the stories about sports in the past? • Whose perspectives are used to frame the stories? • How is power related to recorded history? • Why are histories usually incomplete?

  3. General Historical Issues • Evidence suggests that physical activities and games have existed in nearly all cultures • There are decreasing contrasts between the games that different people play today • Decreasing contrasts are due to cultural diffusion and the power and influence of sponsoring corporations

  4. Historical & Cultural Variations Variations exist because • Sports are cultural practices that can serve a variety of social purposes • People create sports within the constraints of the social worlds in which they live

  5. Ancient Greece Sports were • Grounded in mythology • Linked with religious beliefs • Characterized by • Gender exclusion • Frequent violence • Absence of administrative structures • Absence of measurements & record keeping

  6. Roman Contests and Games • Emphasized spectacle, combat, and the power of political leaders • Characterized by • Diversions for the masses • Exclusion of women as athletes • Absence of quantification and record keeping

  7. Medieval Europe • Folk games played by peasants • Tournaments played by elite for purposes of military readiness • Gender restrictions grounded in religious dogma and beliefs • Games lacked specialization and organization

  8. Renaissance, Reformation, & Enlightenment • Increasing control over peasants • Lives of many were restricted by labor • Calvinist and Puritan beliefs did not promote any forms of leisure • Sports constituted diversions for people

  9. Industrial Revolution:Early Years • Organized, competitive sports emerged, especially among elite • Time and space for games were limited in urban areas • Slavery among Africans, and exploitation of other workers limited widespread involvement in sports

  10. Industrial Revolution:Later Years • Growing emphasis on rationality and organization in society & sports • Most sports were segregated by social class • Women’s participation in sports was very limited

  11. Elite, Competitive Sportsin the US:1880-1920 • Sports often were used by wealthy to reinforce status distinctions • The organization of sports favored the interests of those with power and wealth • Increased participation opportunities for workers, especially men

  12. Elite, Competitive Sports in the US: 1880-1920 (cont) • Sport participation comes to be linked with character development • Organized sports were tied close to ideas about • masculinity and femininity • race and ethnicity • age and disability

  13. 1920 to Today: Struggles Continue Around • Entertainment, professionalization, and commercialism • Masculinity and violence • Nationalism and chauvinism • Gender inequities and homophobia • Racism and racial discrimination • Class dynamics

  14. Immigration • New England Colonies • Settled by Puritans • Little Tolerance Toward Sport and Recreation • Puritan Ethic: work for practical ends • Harvard founded in 1636: sports established as early as 1820’s

  15. Immigration (cont) • Middle Colonies • Settled by Pennsylvania Dutch • Tolerant toward sport and games • A number of games were played in middle colonies: rounders, skittles, lawn bowling

  16. Immigration (cont.) • Southern Colonies • Business development • Enjoyment toward gambling: cock fighting, horse racing, boxing

  17. Native Population • Various sportive pursuits by North American Indians: Lacrosse

  18. Urbanization • Population Centers Provided Support for the development of Organized Sport • New York Knickerbocker Baseball Club in 1842 • Three years later Alexander Joy Cartwright played a leading role in organizing baseball

  19. Urbanization (cont.) • In the 1850s baseball expanded rapidly to include all classes of men • In 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings are formed as the first professional baseball team • In 1876 the National League was formed

  20. Technological Developments • Industrialization • Mass Media • Transportation

More Related