Discover how sports shape American cultural identity, influence political discourse, and impact social relationships throughout society and history.
Discover how sports shape American cultural identity, influence political discourse, and impact social relationships throughout society and history.
Dive into the fascinating world of American sports culture with this comprehensive course. Examine how sports shape and reflect American values, from the religious-like devotion of fans to the political implications of athlete activism. Through engaging lectures and interactive discussions, you'll analyze sports metaphors, media representation, and the complex relationship between sports and society. Whether you're a die-hard sports fan or a curious observer, this course offers valuable insights into American cultural identity, power dynamics, and social norms. Gain a deeper understanding of how sports serve as a microcosm of larger societal issues and develop critical thinking skills to analyze the role of sports in shaping American culture.
Instructors:
English
What you'll learn
Understand sport as a cultural institution and microcosm of American society
Analyze the parallels between sports fandom and religious devotion
Evaluate the impact of sports metaphors on everyday language and cultural perceptions
Examine the historical and contemporary relationship between sports and politics
Critically assess media representation and glorification of sports in American culture
Explore the role of sports in shaping gender, racial, and political power systems
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
1.67 Hours PreRecorded video
7 assignments
Access on Mobile, Tablet, Desktop
FullTime access
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There are 5 modules in this course
This course examines the multifaceted role of sports in American culture, exploring how athletic competitions reflect and shape societal values, norms, and power structures. The curriculum is divided into five key modules: Why Study Sport, America's Religious Devotion to Sport, Sport as War, Playing with Politics, and a final synthesis project. Students will analyze sports through various lenses, including media representation, cultural symbolism, language and metaphor, and political activism. Through a combination of video lectures, readings, discussions, and reflective assignments, participants will develop critical thinking skills to evaluate the complex relationship between sports and American society.
Why Study Sport?
Module 1 · 5 Hours to complete
America's Religious Devotion to Sport
Module 2 · 6 Hours to complete
Sport as War
Module 3 · 3 Hours to complete
Playing with Politics
Module 4 · 7 Hours to complete
OVERTIME: Closing Thoughts
Module 5 · 2 Hours to complete
Fee Structure
Payment options
Financial Aid
Instructor
Teaching Professor and Associate Chair at the University of Colorado Boulder
Dr. Jamie Skerski has been a Teaching Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Colorado Boulder since 2011, where she also serves as the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies. With a PhD in Communication and Culture from Indiana University, her research focuses on the intersection of gender and media, particularly through the lens of sport. Dr. Skerski teaches courses on Public Speaking, discourse and identity, rhetorical criticism, and communication in sports. Her recent research examines contemporary discourses surrounding the tomboy identity. Originally from Chicago, she is a former Division I softball player and enjoys coaching her daughter's soccer team while maintaining a love/hate relationship with the NFL and fantasy football.
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