Sports and American Culture

For over a century, sports have occupied a central role in American life. More than 'just games,' sports have been deployed in the form of meaningful spectacle, exerting a social impact beyond fields and courts. This course addresses the intersection of sports and American society since the nineteenth century, focusing on such themes as nationalism, race, gender, capitalism, and globalization. Through a cultural studies approach, we will better understand how ideas, power, and capital flow through sports to broad audiences. In the process, we will extensively discuss and debate the political dynamics that have long pervaded the sports world.