The Power of Sport in American Culture

Overview

Have you ever wondered why sports are such a big deal in the United States? Or why American’s don’t love futbol (soccer) as much as the rest of the world? This course investigates the multi-billion dollar sports industry as a way to discern American cultural values. Themes we will explore: -- Sports media’s glorification of sport -- America’s religious-like fandom -- The "sport as war" frame and the implications -- Gender, racial, and political systems of power This course will open your eyes to the power of sport as a cultural institution. You’ll analyze the discourses of sports culture and apply critical thinking to your personal experiences with sports. Whether you're a sports fanatic or a curious learner, this course will instill a deeper understanding of American values and how they play out on the field.

Syllabus

Why Study Sport?

Welcome to The Power of Sport in American Culture. In this first module, it's time to tackle our cultural assumptions about sport. We’ll examine the common myths (Fairness! Health! Teamwork!) perpetuated by educational, sociopolitical, and media institutions. We’ll conclude by investigating the curious case of American soccer.

America’s Religious Devotion to Sport

We have faith in our favorite teams, idolize athletes, and believe in superstitions. This unit will explore the religious-like discourses, rituals, and symbols of our sport fanaticism. We’ll conclude with a mock campaign for team advertisement.

Sport as War

The language of sport unconsciously seeps into our everyday conversations. This module will examine how sports metaphors create powerful frames for seeing the world. We’ll conclude with a case study in sports branding.

Playing with Politics

Sports have become a cultural battleground where politics collides with our ideas of fandom, pleasure, and entertainment. This module explores the contested relationship between sports and politics.

OVERTIME: Closing Thoughts

This module contains the final project for the course. In the final project, you will synthesize everything you've learned in this course to analyze a sports advertisement.