Exploring Sports and Society
A Critical Introduction for Students
Published on 12. December 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-137-34159-4 (ISBN)
Description
What is the relationship between sports and society? How can we understand sport in relation to physical activities, leisure and physical culture? In this far-reaching and inter-disciplinary textbook, Karl Spracklen brings together ideas and research from sports studies, sociology, cultural studies, history, philosophy and psychology, in order to explore the meaning and purpose of sports in society.
Unique in its critical outlook, the text explicitly aims to challenge readers to question their assumptions about sports and physical culture, through chapters that focus in on the issues and controversies in sports and identify the tensions in the role of sport and physical culture in our everyday lives.
Combining exposition of key concepts with critical analysis of relevant and up-to-date research examples, this informative and provocative textbook makes a distinct companion for students and lecturers across all sports-related courses, from sports science and physical education to sports studies and leisure studies.
Unique in its critical outlook, the text explicitly aims to challenge readers to question their assumptions about sports and physical culture, through chapters that focus in on the issues and controversies in sports and identify the tensions in the role of sport and physical culture in our everyday lives.
Combining exposition of key concepts with critical analysis of relevant and up-to-date research examples, this informative and provocative textbook makes a distinct companion for students and lecturers across all sports-related courses, from sports science and physical education to sports studies and leisure studies.
Reviews / Votes
'Spracklen has written a very good introductory book about sports and sports place in society. The book can safely be recommended as a textbook for four reasons: (1) it covers the most important themes in modern sport; (2) it has a consistently critical tone; (3) it will provoke discussion; and (4) it is fun to read.' Havard Bergesen Valley, Norwegian School of Sports SciencesMore details
Edition
2014
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 23.4 cm
Width: 15.6 cm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
421 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-137-34159-4 (9781137341594)
DOI
10.1007/978-1-137-34160-0
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
12/2014
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€44.49
Available for download
Person
Karl Spracklen is Professor of Leisure Studies at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK, and Project Leader for the Inter-Disciplinary.Net sports conferences. He is the author of several texts on leisure and sport, including The Meaning and Purpose of Leisure, Constructing Leisure, Whiteness and Leisure, as well as the textbook Leisure, Sports and Society, all published by Palgrave.
Content
Introduction: Sport(s) and Physical Culture.- PART I: POSITIONS 1. Who Invented Sports?.- 2. Sporting Myths and Sports Histories.- 3. Sport, Freedom, Fairness.- 4. Character and Community Building.- 5. Embodiment and Gratification.- 6. Sport and Wellbeing.- PART II: PROBLEMS 7. The Obesity Epidemic.- 8. Performance Enhancement.- 9. Compulsory Physical Education.- 10. Biology and Essentialism.- 11. The Limits of Sport Science.- 12. Watching Sport.- 13. The Sports Industry.- 14. Sports Fashions.- Conclusion: The Future of Sport as Physical Culture.