Exploring Sports' Historical Evolution: Past Perspectives and Cultural Variations, Slides of Sport Studies

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Sport in Society:

Issues & Controversies

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?

• How is power related to recorded

history?

• Why are histories usually incomplete?

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

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

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

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

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

Elite, Competitive Sports

in the US: 1880-

• 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

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

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

Immigration (cont.)

• Southern Colonies
  • Business development
  • Enjoyment toward gambling: cock fighting, horse racing, boxing

Native Population

• Various sportive pursuits by North American

Indians: Lacrosse

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

Technological Developments

• Industrialization
• Mass Media
• Transportation