American Studies: The Spirit of American Sports

***This syllabus is also available via PDF, HERE.

Course Description
At the root of our culture, sports are fun, an escape from the grind of day-to-day life. A simple glance at the television, however, and one sees on display steroid scandals, dogfighting charges and off-the-field issues that truly negate the spirit of American sport. In this course, students will delve deep into sports fandom, first analyzing the sports fans’ experience as it relates, for example, to the sports venue and city. Students will analyze how the media represents sport, and how that representation shapes the life of the fan. Last, and most importantly, the class will delve deep into the spirit of American sports, attempting to determine where it truly lies.

Required Texts
Art Chansky, Blue Blood: Duke-Carolina: Inside the Most Storied Rivalry in College Hoops
Mark Fainaru-Wada, Lance Williams, Game of Shadows
Steve Rushin, Road Swing: One Fan's Journey Into The Soul Of America's Sports
Various additional readings

Course Requirements and Evaluation
Major Papers (2): 15% each = 30% total
Major Paper: 40%
Presentation/Lead Discussion: 20%
Class Participation: 10% total

Major Papers
These papers are meant to be, in a word, personal. Sports fandom is personal, whether we believe it or not.

For the first unit – “The Sports Fans’ Experience” – select a sports venue, one that you have attended. For the purpose of this assignment, select one that you can remember, preferably in vivid detail. Perhaps there is a venue that you frequented as a child. In this paper, your assignment is to suggest to your readers why this venue is, put bluntly, special. You must interview one other person that has frequented this venue. Incorporate in some way details from class in terms of why the sports venue is important to American culture. You also must accumulate 10 sources that reference your venue in some profound way.

For the second unit – “The Sports Fan and the Media” – argue for or against this question:

Many say that sports are different today than they used to be. Scandals (e.g., steroids) prevail, and these, many say are a reflection of the way sport has evolved. Some say, however, that the media represents these scandals in a different light. How would you respond?

Presentation/Discussions
Three groups, evenly divided, will lead a discussion at the conclusion of each unit. Discussions are open-ended, but must address applicable class content.

***The course schedule is available HERE.