In his previous books Allen Guttmann has provided incisive
perspectives on Avery Brundage's role in the Olympic movement and
on the nature of modern sports. Now, in his latest book, the
accomplished historian of sport turns his attention from the
playing field to the grandstand. "Sports Spectators, " the first
historical study of the subject from antiquity to today, is at once
erudite and entertaining; comprehensive and succint.
Guttmann first examines the history of sports spectators,
starting with Ancient Greece and Rome. He then moves on to the
Renaissance and traces three early sports -the tournament, archery,
and early versions of football. The author then focuses on the
emergenece of sports in post-Renaissance England, and discusses the
curious spectacle of animal sports (bear- and bull-baiting and
cockfighting), as well as the first appearance of combat sports
such as sword fighting, stick fighting, and boxing. The book
concludes its historical view by exploring contemporary baseball,
football, rowing, tennis, and golf.
From his chronological narrative, Guttmann shifts to detailed
analysis of the economic, sociological, and psychological aspects
of sports spectatorship. Who were, and are, sports spectators? What
is their gender and social class? Have they normally been
participants as well as fans? What are the political functions of
sports-watching? What are the social dynamics of spectatorship?
Guttmann provides fresh insights which will be useful to
scholars and fascinating to everyone. "Sports Spectators" also
looks at the dramatic transformations radio and television have
made, and offers an incisive critique of today's sports-related
violence, including the increasingly frequent incidences of
spectator hooliganism. How violent (or peaceful) have spectators
traditionally been? Has spectator violence increased or
decreased?
You needn't be a season ticket-holder to enjoy "Sports
Spectators." Allen Guttmann makes the history of fandom come alive
for any reader interested in Western culture and what forms of
entertainment reveal about us, as well as those concerned with the
recent growth of spectator violence.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
(1)
