SPAN 50 Essays

Explore P. Hoyningen-Huene’s thesis that "Football re-enacts the drama of life." In what specific ways does the game of football, according to the author, mirror the interplay of ability and chance found in real-world endeavors?

Thesis: According to P. Hoyningen-Huene, football re-enacts the drama of life due to its unpredictability and combination of banal characteristics- money and work, with joyous and exciting characteristics such as goal scoring and celebration.

P1: Soccer is unpredictable, you can never tell how a game will go. A lot of it is left up to chance which isn't true with many other sports. This is similar to real life experiences, where one small mistake can divert a whole day, week, or even the rest of your life. A game can be completely ruined for one team in the blink of an eye.

P2: Soccer can also be seen as more relatable because it involves finance and work. The players are doing their jobs out on the field, and a bad day at work for them may be a loss or tie on the field. This can be seen as relatable to viewers. However, the excitement involved in a game-winning goal or hat-trick balances the banality of work and money out. In life, there may be boring moments that no one would think twice about, but there are also life changing moments that bring joy into the day, just like in soccer.

Critically evaluate the reasons behind fan loyalty in soccer, particularly the phenomenon of supporting a "bad" team. What does this reveal about the social and emotional aspects of sports fandom?

Thesis: Many fans support specific teams due to familial or residential loyalties, which may unintentionally lead them to support a “bad” team. This illustrates the importance of emotional bonds and connections in sports, as true fans stick with their teams because of the connection they have with them, not their record.

P1: Familial and residential loyalties are common. Fans may be born into a family who has supported a specific team their entire lives, and these fans will be raised to support this same team. It makes sense to support a team in your city even if they are “bad”, because you are connected to them through location. You have something in common.

P2: Switching team allegiance based on success level is contradictory to the true essence of being a football supporter. It is embarrassing to change allegiance. It's more exciting for supporters of bad teams to witness their team's success versus a supporter of a team who always wins. Illustrates how strong an emotional connection to a team can be. If your dad is a fan of this team, you might become a fan too and stay a fan for your lifetime, eventually passing this connection down to your children.

Compare and contrast the "Traditional," "Modern," and "Post-Modern" periods in the evolution of soccer, highlighting the key social, economic, and cultural factors that shaped each era

Thesis: Each period in the evolution of soccer differed immensely from each other, with the traditional period focusing on the global spread of modern soccer, the modern period focusing on new tournaments and the increase of nationalistic ideals, and the post modern period focusing on commercialization and commodification as soccer begins to be influenced by more outside forces.

P1: Traditional period = football emerges in Britain under elite influence, reflected class distinctions

P2: Modern period: olympic games and world cup, association with nationalism, large stadiums built.

P3: Post modern period: players become celebrities, advertising and merchandising take over, disconnect between local support and global support

Evaluate the relationship between soccer and globalization. To what extent does soccer serve as a unifying global force, and in what ways does it reflect or exacerbate existing global inequalities and cultural differences?

Thesis: While rivalries between fans and conflicts due to nationalism can exacerbate global inequalities and cultural differences, the connection of fans across the globe through the shared language of soccer overshadows these differences

P1: Reinforcing national identities and fuel conflict. Fans can take it too far when supporting their team and ignore their morals. Conflict may escalate to extreme levels (The Football War, El Salvador/Honduras) However, soccer generally mirrors ongoing politics rather than creating issues.

P2: Soccer functions as a global language that connects people through shared transnational practices. Fans can appreciate other fans because they understand their devotion.

Consider the documentary "Zidane. A 21st Century Portrait" as an attempt to capture the artistic or aesthetic qualities of a sporting event. Evaluate its success in

Thesis: “Zidane. A 21st Century Portrait” reproduces the beauty of the game for the viewer through a unique perspective, replicating the game through Zidane’s experience and movements alone.

Analyze the ways in which the modern football stadium functions as more than just a venue for sporting events, drawing on concepts such as ritual, sacred space, and its role in urban identity. 

Thesis: The modern football stadium is a key site of ritual presence in a digitally controlled world, and allows fans to become a part of a unique collective experience separating them from the outside world.

P1: Being in a special place to watch a game in real life is super different than just watching online, because part of the experience is being in the stadium.

P2: Stadium masses, shared concentration, collective euphoria

Evaluate the tensions that can arise between the conservation of public monuments and their spontaneous use as sites for celebratory gatherings, considering the perspectives of fans, authorities, and cultural heritage preservation.

Thesis: While the spontaneous use of public monuments as sites for celebratory gathering can allow fans to create an emotional connection with a specific area and foster community amongst themselves, it can also lead to widespread chaos and disrespect in a public space that has multiple other uses.

P1: Invisibilization of emotions: In celebrations in these public spaces, fans can express their emotions free of judgement along with other devoted fans

Canaletes Fountain is a “ritual site” that fans connect to great celebrations and memories

P2: Creation of parade as celebration to control crowds

Celebrations can be extremely chaotic and when fans are allowed to express their emotions so openly they may act out of character if they are caught up in the excitement

1. Discuss the impact of hypercommodification on football spectatorship. How has this process altered the relationship between spectators and clubs, and what concerns have been raised about these changes?

Thesis: Hypercommodification has weakened the relationship between spectators and clubs and led to an increase in flaneurs, creating concerns about the amount of truly devoted supporters and taking away from the true meaning of the game.

P1: Spectators and clubs do not have as strong a relationship as they once did, where spectators and players almost equally supported each other. The focus on a monetary aspect of soccer has made it more difficult for traditional loyal supporters to attend games and display their devotion to the game. Many spectators are now “flaneurs”, or very casual spectators with an extremely limited connection to teams/clubs.

P2: An increase in flaneurs raises concerns about the amount of true supporters and followers who have a true bond with a team or club. Soccer is meant to be appreciated for the game itself, and it has turned into a competition where celebrities and upper class spectators flaunt their wealth with merchandise and the best seats.