This discussion addresses Module Outcomes 1 and 2. Your module notes and reading content demonstrate that the future of sports is difficult to predict, but the role of sports and athletes has increased in American society, while paradoxically the participation by youth has fallen. Given this possible disconnect, you will address some critical aspects of the present and future of sports in American society in this discussion activity.
Sports are an ancient institution and have been used as spectacle and distraction for the masses since the Roman coliseum. Today, we have modern corporate parks for our games and the various ways scholars and theorists assess the role and importance of sports varies, while the modes of viewership and fandom are proliferating, as of course is also the pay of the top athletes. Yet, we are at a loss to state the actual significance of sports to American society, and assess whether it will endure.
Please be sure to have the appropriate video and reading content completed before beginning the activity.
Before participating in this discussion, make sure you have completed the relevant video and reading content for the module, particularly the Menand, Delaware North and Guttmann readings. Drawing upon this content, please respond to the following questions:
• Identify and explore at least one way that contemporary American sports are in peril, at risk of losing their fans and future athletes. What would any theorist you have reviewed have to say about this peril?
• In what ways do you see this/these sports being able to overcome these shortcomings?
• Finally, does the future of sports that Delaware North forecasts fill you with optimism about the prospect of sport in American society? Why, or why not?
704606
6 hours ago
Required
Module notes: American Sport and Society in the 21st Century
Menand, Louis. (2016, May 16). Show them the money: Is the sports business a bubble? (Links to an external site.) New Yorker.
Guttmann, A. (2012). From ritual to record: The nature of modern sports. (Links to an external site.) New York: Columbia University Press, pp.157-161 (Links to an external site.), 165-170 (Links to an external site.).
Delaware North Corporation. (2015, September). The future of sports. (Links to an external site.) Delaware North Corporation, pp.1-37 (rest optional) [PDF, 7 KB].
Aspen Institute. (2015, January 26). A New Vision, Platform for Youth Sports in America. https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/new-vision-platform-youth-sports-america/ (Links to an external site.). Aspen Institute.
Morgan, W. J. (1983). Toward a critical theory of sport (Links to an external site.). Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 7(1), 24-34.
Novy-Williams, E. (2016, July 15). Pro Sports Bets on Video Gamers for Growth (Links to an external site.). Bloomberg News.
Optional
Aspen Institute. 2015. Sport for all: Play for Life. Solutions (Links to an external site.). Aspen Institute.
Hutchins, B. (2014). Sport on the Move: The Unfolding Impact of Mobile Communications on the Media Sport Content Economy (Links to an external site.). Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 38(6), 509-527.
Morgan, W. J. (1995). ‘Incredulity Toward Metanarratives’ and Normative Suicide: A Critique of Postmodernist Drift in Critical Sport Theory. (Links to an external site.)International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 30(1), 25-46.
Price, J., Farrington, N., & Hall, L. (2013). Changing the game? The impact of Twitter on relationships between football clubs, supporters and the sports media. (Links to an external site.) Soccer & Society, 14(4), 446-461.
Scambler, G. (2005). Sport and society: History, power and culture (Links to an external site.). Berkshire, GBR: McGraw-Hill Education, pp.162-182.
704606
6 hours ago
Required
Delaware North. 2015. The future of sports is here (Links to an external site.). [Video file, 2:54 mins].
Advertising (Links to an external site.), from A Marriage of Convenience: Sports and the Media [Video file, 1:44 mins].
Hyper-Commercialization. (Links to an external site.) A Marriage of Convenience: Sports and the Media [Video file, 1:10 mins].
Media Control Over the Game. (Links to an external site.), from A Marriage of Convenience: Sports and the Media [Video file, 2:07 mins].
Optional Pomona College.
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