University of Colorado Boulder
The Power of Sport in American Culture
University of Colorado Boulder

The Power of Sport in American Culture

Jamie Skerski

Instructor: Jamie Skerski

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

16 hours to complete
3 weeks at 5 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

16 hours to complete
3 weeks at 5 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Understand sport as a cultural institution and microcosm of society.

  • Explain the parallels between sports fandom and religious devotion.

  • Evaluate the sports metaphors in everyday language and their cultural implications.

  • Reframe the relationship between sports and politics from an historical perspective.

Details to know

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Recently updated!

July 2024

Assessments

3 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

Welcome to The Power of Sport in American Culture. In this first module, it's time to tackle our cultural assumptions about sport. We’ll examine the common myths (Fairness! Health! Teamwork!) perpetuated by educational, sociopolitical, and media institutions. We’ll conclude by investigating the curious case of American soccer.

What's included

15 videos13 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt1 plugin

We have faith in our favorite teams, idolize athletes, and believe in superstitions. This unit will explore the religious-like discourses, rituals, and symbols of our sport fanaticism. We’ll conclude with a mock campaign for team advertisement.

What's included

4 videos14 readings

The language of sport unconsciously seeps into our everyday conversations. This module will examine how sports metaphors create powerful frames for seeing the world. We’ll conclude with a case study in sports branding.

What's included

4 videos13 readings1 assignment

Sports have become a cultural battleground where politics collides with our ideas of fandom, pleasure, and entertainment. This module explores the contested relationship between sports and politics.

What's included

4 videos15 readings1 assignment

This module contains the final project for the course. In the final project, you will synthesize everything you've learned in this course to analyze a sports advertisement.

What's included

1 reading1 peer review

Instructor

Jamie Skerski
University of Colorado Boulder
1 Course82 learners

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Recommended if you're interested in Governance and Society

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