Honors Seminar: Sports in American Popular Culture

Friday Night Lights and A League of Their Own: Sports in American Popular Culture
Honors Seminar -- Spring 2005
Nancy G. Rosoff
nrosoff@camden.rutgers.edu
Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Mondays 4:30 - 7:10   -- Armitage Hall Room 337

Texts
Class Schedule

Guidelines for Assignments Due Dates Useful Links Changes/Additions/ Updates

Note that, due to the weather, class is canceled for 28 February. See the changes/additions/updates
section for the revised schedule of classes.

Note a revised class schedule posted below.

Sports have played a vital role in American culture, especially in the last one hundred years. In many ways, a close examination of sports provides a useful window into the experience of many groups of people. Events in the wide world of sports can have a meaning far beyond the score of a particular game. This course will examine the nature of various sports and their role in American society from historical and contemporary perspectives. We will consider the relationship between sports and such issues as gender, race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, nationalism, and the role of the media as we consider the relationship between sport and popular culture in the United States. In general, we will pair reading a book with viewing a film or examining other media to explore a topic in depth. Students should expect a fair amount of reading and significant writing assignments, and should be willing to commit to being an active participant in class discussions.

Please note that this syllabus is subject to change. Students should check both email messages and the section below called Changes/Additions/Updates.

Office hours:
Due to my responsibilities as Associate Dean for Administration and Academic Program Development for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, I will not have specific office hours. However, I am generally on campus every day (from at least 7:30 a.m. till late afternoon) and will be happy to meet with you at a mutually convenient time. Call Ms. Betty Skyta, my administrative assistant (x2953), or email me to set up an appointment. In addition, you should feel free to communicate with me by email; I check messages frequently, even when I am not on campus. You should also check your email regularly, as I will send messages related to class fairly often.

Objectives: By taking this course, students should be able to
1.      understand the role played by sports in American popular culture,

2.      evaluate how the media shapes popular perceptions of sports and athletes,

3.      describe the intersection of sports with such social and cultural factors as gender, race, sexuality, ethnicity, class, and nationalism,

4.      analyze critically multiple sources of information, and

5.      express themselves clearly orally and in writing.
Expectations: Students are expected to follow these guidelines --
1.      attend class and participate actively and constructively in class discussions,

2.      complete all assignments thoroughly and on time,

3.      show respect for the ideas and beliefs of all members of the class,

4.      treat all members of the class and any visitors with courtesy, and

5.      read, and respond appropriately to, email related to class, especially that from the professor.

Texts:
We will read the following books as well as some photocopied materials that will be supplied to you in class. The books are available in the campus bookstore as well as through other sources; if you choose to buy any or all of the books online, be sure to allow time for them to arrive and for you to complete the reading assignments.

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Bissinger, H.G. Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream. New York: Da Capo Press, 1990.

Feinstein, John. The Last Amateurs : Playing for Glory and Honor in Division I College Basketball. Back Bay Books, 2001.

Littman, Jonathan. The Beautiful Game: Sixteen Girls and the Soccer Season That Changed Everything. Perennial, 1999.

Pound, Richard W. Inside the Olympics : A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Politics, the Scandals, and the Glory of the Games. John Wiley & Sons, 2004.

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Class Schedule:

Date Class Schedule

24 January Introductions: what lies ahead?

31 January
Presentations and discussions of chapters from Benjamin G. Rader, From the Age of Folk Games to the Age of Televised Sports (5th edition) – copies of these chapters will be provided on 24 January.
Each student will read a chapter from this book (two students per chapter);   the students responsible for each chapter will then present the key information about the intersection of sports, society, and culture in the United States from the chapter. What are the main points the author makes about the topic of the chapter? What is most important for us to know about this material? The presentation for each chapter should take no more than fifteen minutes. Make sure that you get in touch with the other person doing each chapter for which you are responsible. If you have materials you need copied for class, be sure to send them (by email) to Dr. Rosoff no later than 1:00 p.m. on 1/31/05.

7 February Film viewing/discussion: Bend It Like Beckham

14 February Sports in Popular Culture Poster Session – assignment due
Discussion of Jonathan Littman, The Beautiful Game: Sixteen Girls and the Soccer Season That Changed Everything. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m.

21 February Film review #1 due (if you have chosen this option).
Film viewing/discussion: Chariots of Fire.

22 February
Excursion to New Brunswick to see Rutgers vs. Boston College at the RAC. The tickets are free to students with a Rutgers ID. Details about our departure time will be provided closer to the event. This experience is connected to our class of 3/7/05.

28 February
Discussion of Richard W. Pound, Inside the Olympics: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Politics, the Scandals, and the Glory of the Games. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m. As you read, compare Pound’s view of the Olympics with that portrayed in Chariots of Fire. Possible visit to class by Provost Roger J. Dennis.

7 March
Film viewing/discussion: This Is a Game Ladies. This film followed the Rutgers (New Brunswick) women’s basketball team through an entire season. Click here for information about the film and some of the people featured in it.

14 March Spring Break--no class

21 March Film review #2 due (if you have chosen this option).
Discussion of John Feinstein, The Last Amateurs : Playing for Glory and Honor in Division I College Basketball. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m. We will also be developing the criteria by which you will analyze media presentations of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments. Come to class prepared to make suggestions for what would be useful points of analysis. SEE CHANGES BELOW

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COURSE SCHEDULE HAS CHANGED -- SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS

28 March Film viewing/discussion: A League of Their Own and discussion of Patricia Brown, A League of My Own (copies will be distributed in class). Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m.

4 April No class – Final Four!

11 April March Madness Analysis due.
Discussion of H.G. Bissinger, Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m.

18 April Film viewing/discussion: Friday Night Lights

25 April Internet vs. Print Journalism – assignment due and class discussion.

2 May Film Review #3 due by 4:30 p.m.; these can be sent electronically as a Word attachment or brought to my office (393 Armitage Hall).
Makeup date in case any classes are snowed or rained out.

6 May Journals due to my office (393 Armitage Hall) by 1:30 p.m.

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Class Assignments and Grading:

You will be graded on several short written assignments over the course of the semester as well as on the quality of your contributions to our class discussions. Throughout the semester, as noted on the schedule, you are expected to submit questions or topics for discussion prior to our class meeting. Please be aware that your contribution to our discussions is essential and expected, as is class attendance. Missing more than one class (unless excused) will certainly affect your performance in the class and will lead to a lower grade than you would otherwise receive; you should of course see me if extraordinary circumstances arise. You should note that the days on which we view films will include discussions and thus are equally important to other class meetings.

The assignments, together with their due dates and value, are listed below. Details about each of the assignments can be found below. Your grade for the semester will be based on the percentage of points you earn of the total possible.                   back to top

Assignment Due Date Value

Sports in Popular Culture Poster
14 February
50 points

Film Review #1 21 February 50 points

Film Review #2 21 March 50 points

March Madness Analysis 11 April 100 points

Internet vs. Print Journalism 25 April 100 points

Film Review #3 2 May 75 points

Journal 6 May 200 points

Discussion questions/participation ongoing 50 points

All assignments should be typed or word processed, using the twelve point size of a standard font. Be sure that you double space and that your margins are of a standard size. Assignments are expected on time; ten percent of the grade will be deducted for each day they are late. I remind you gently of the folly of waiting to the last minute to complete assignments.
Many of your own assignments will be critical essays, rather than research projects. Nonetheless, you must be sure to cite carefully all sources of information, using a standard format. If you need help knowing what or how to cite, please ask me or one of the reference librarians for help. You can also consult a style manual such as the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or Student's Guide for Writing College Papers, both of which are commonly available. Please be aware of what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it. The University defines plagiarism as “the representation of the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise.” Be sure to become familiar with our campus Academic Integrity Policy. You may find the following links useful as you seek to avoid problems of this nature.

Advice from the Paul Robeson Library, "How to Avoid Plagiarism"
Web page maintained by the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice about plagiarism and how to avoid it

Guidelines for Specific Assignments:

Sports in Popular Culture Poster – Many images of sports appear throughout popular culture sources, including newspapers and magazines, television, and the internet.   Using a standard poster board (22” x28”), create a poster that shows how sports are represented in these popular culture sources. Your poster should have a combination of images and words; it should show the complex place of sports in our society. We will spend some time looking at each poster during class on the due date, so you should come prepared to explain why you made the selections you did and what messages about sports you think are conveyed through contemporary popular culture.
Film Reviews – Select either Review #1 or Review #2 and complete Review #3:

Film Review #1--Write a two page review and analysis of Bend It Like Beckham, in which you discuss how the film relates to the various aspects of sports that we are considering in this course (see the beginning of the syllabus if you are not sure what they are!).

OR

Film Review #2--Write a two page review and analysis of Chariots of Fire, in which you discuss how the film relates to the various aspects of sports that we are considering in this course (see the beginning of the syllabus if you are not sure what they are!).

Film Review #3--Write a three to four page review and analysis of either A League of Their Own or Friday Night Lights, in which you discuss how the film relates to the various aspects of sports that we are considering in this course. You should also compare the film treatment of these events with the relevant book. If you choose to write about A League of Their Own, you may turn the assignment in earlier, should you so desire.

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March Madness Analysis – Watch at least five games from the men’s and women’s NCAA Division I basketball championships, known as March Madness. You must watch at least two games from each tournament. Analyze what you have viewed in light of the criteria we develop in class (on March 21st). You should also briefly compare broadcast coverage with that which appears in print or on the internet. Your written analysis should be five to six pages.

Internet vs. Print Journalism – For this assignment, you will need to examine a magazine dedicated to sports (e.g., Sports Illustrated), the sports section of a major newspaper (e.g., New York Times or Philadelphia Inquirer), and at least two internet sites devoted to sports news (see the online version of the syllabus for links to suggested sites; you are welcome to use other sites, but get them approved ahead of time–they should be general sites rather than sports or league specific.

For all of these types of media, describe what stories are being covered and how much space they get relative to one another. How is the information presented? Which of the aspects of sports that we are considering this semester (see the beginning of the syllabus if you are not sure what they are) are addressed? How? What type of media is most appealing or interesting? Why?

You should offer your comparative analysis in a five to six page essay and be prepared to discuss your findings in class.

Journal -- Each week write one or two entries (two to three typed pages per week) that contain your observations about sports and society (historical and/or contemporary). Your entries might stem from our class discussions or readings, but could also come from your own interests. From time to time, I may ask you to address a particular subject in your journal. Be sure to make regular entries throughout the course of the semester. Your journal should have a total of fourteen entries.

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Useful Links:

Magazines that feature sports:

ESPN the Magazine

Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated for Kids

Newspapers:
New York Times (you'll need to register to read this online, but it's free)
Philadelphia Inquirer (you'll need to register to read this online, but it's free)

Internet sites devoted to sports news:
ESPN
CBS SportsLine

ABC Sports

NBC Sports

NCAA Championships:
NCAA Sports
Men's basketball tournament

Women's basketball tournament

Other Sites:
International Olympic Committee
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (see especially Rules of Conduct and Charm School in the League History section)

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Changes/Additions/Updates:

If you have any suggestions for sites that should be added to the links above, please email them to me.

28 February -- class canceled due to weather.

7 March -- the agenda originally scheduled for 28 February will be followed tonight, including a visit from Provost Dennis and a discussion of the Pound book.

14 March -- no class due to spring break.

21 March -- Film viewing/discussion: This Is a Game Ladies. This film followed the Rutgers (New Brunswick) women’s basketball team through an entire season. Click here for information about the film and some of the people featured in it. AND Film review #2 due (if you have chosen this option).
Discussion of John Feinstein, The Last Amateurs : Playing for Glory and Honor in Division I College Basketball. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m. We will also be developing the criteria by which you will analyze media presentations of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments. Come to class prepared to make suggestions for what would be useful points of analysis.
----------------------------
NEW SCHEDULE!!!

28 March <>1) Discussion of college athletes, recruiting, and Feinstein, The Last Amateurs. <>
See NCAA site: http://www2.ncaa.org/academics_and_athletes/ as well as Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete distributed in class.
You should look through A Call to Action: Reconnecting College Sports and Higher Education – Report of the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics -- June 2001 http://www.ncaa.org/databases/knight_commission/2001_report/.
2) As Congress investigates the use of steroids by major league baseball players, the question of drug use among athletes has catapulted into contemporary discussions about sport. Use the links below, as well as the materials distributed in class, to prepare to discuss this topic in class. Please note that you will need to "subscribe" to the online editions of these newspapers--there is no cost involved.

Special section of the New York Times: Steroids in Baseball -- some of these materials will be distributed in class.

The Washington Post's coverage of the hearings can be found by going to washingtonpost.com and clicking on sports; see also the section of Frequently Asked Questions about the hearings.

ESPN.com's coverage of "The Steroid Scandal"

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform (the committee that held the hearings); see especially the Davis/Waxman Letter to MLB and MLBPA on MLB Testing Policy and Response Letter from Government Reform Chairman Davis and Ranking Member Waxman to Major League Baseball Attorney Stanley Brand

4 April No class – Final Four!

11 April
March Madness Analysis due.   See criteria developed in clas s.
Film viewing/discussion: Friday Night Lights and discussion of H.G. Bissinger, Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m.

18 April Film viewing/discussion: A League of Their Own and discussion of Patricia Brown, A League of My Own (copies will be distributed in class). Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m.

25 April Internet vs. Print Journalism – assignment due and class discussion.

2 May Film Review #3 due by 4:30 p.m.; these can be sent electronically as a Word attachment or brought to my office (393 Armitage Hall).
Makeup date in case any classes are snowed or rained out.

6 May Journals due to my office (393 Armitage Hall) by 1:30 p.m.

	Bissinger, H.G. Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream. New York: Da Capo Press, 1990.
	Feinstein, John. The Last Amateurs : Playing for Glory and Honor in Division I College Basketball. Back Bay Books, 2001.
	Littman, Jonathan. The Beautiful Game: Sixteen Girls and the Soccer Season That Changed Everything. Perennial, 1999.
	Pound, Richard W. Inside the Olympics : A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Politics, the Scandals, and the Glory of the Games. John Wiley & Sons, 2004.

Date	Class Schedule
24 January	Introductions: what lies ahead?
31 January	Presentations and discussions of chapters from Benjamin G. Rader, From the Age of Folk Games to the Age of Televised Sports (5th edition) – copies of these chapters will be provided on 24 January. Each student will read a chapter from this book (two students per chapter); the students responsible for each chapter will then present the key information about the intersection of sports, society, and culture in the United States from the chapter. What are the main points the author makes about the topic of the chapter? What is most important for us to know about this material? The presentation for each chapter should take no more than fifteen minutes. Make sure that you get in touch with the other person doing each chapter for which you are responsible. If you have materials you need copied for class, be sure to send them (by email) to Dr. Rosoff no later than 1:00 p.m. on 1/31/05.
7 February	Film viewing/discussion: Bend It Like Beckham
14 February	Sports in Popular Culture Poster Session – assignment due Discussion of Jonathan Littman, The Beautiful Game: Sixteen Girls and the Soccer Season That Changed Everything. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m.
21 February	Film review #1 due (if you have chosen this option). Film viewing/discussion: Chariots of Fire.
22 February	Excursion to New Brunswick to see Rutgers vs. Boston College at the RAC. The tickets are free to students with a Rutgers ID. Details about our departure time will be provided closer to the event. This experience is connected to our class of 3/7/05.
28 February	Discussion of Richard W. Pound, Inside the Olympics: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Politics, the Scandals, and the Glory of the Games. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m. As you read, compare Pound’s view of the Olympics with that portrayed in Chariots of Fire. Possible visit to class by Provost Roger J. Dennis.
7 March	Film viewing/discussion: This Is a Game Ladies. This film followed the Rutgers (New Brunswick) women’s basketball team through an entire season. Click here for information about the film and some of the people featured in it.
14 March	Spring Break--no class
21 March	Film review #2 due (if you have chosen this option). Discussion of John Feinstein, The Last Amateurs : Playing for Glory and Honor in Division I College Basketball. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m. We will also be developing the criteria by which you will analyze media presentations of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments. Come to class prepared to make suggestions for what would be useful points of analysis. SEE CHANGES BELOW
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COURSE SCHEDULE HAS CHANGED -- SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS
28 March	Film viewing/discussion: A League of Their Own and discussion of Patricia Brown, A League of My Own (copies will be distributed in class). Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m.
4 April	No class – Final Four!
11 April	March Madness Analysis due. Discussion of H.G. Bissinger, Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m.
18 April	Film viewing/discussion: Friday Night Lights
25 April	Internet vs. Print Journalism – assignment due and class discussion.
2 May	Film Review #3 due by 4:30 p.m.; these can be sent electronically as a Word attachment or brought to my office (393 Armitage Hall). Makeup date in case any classes are snowed or rained out.
6 May	Journals due to my office (393 Armitage Hall) by 1:30 p.m.

Assignment	Due Date	Value
Sports in Popular Culture Poster	14 February	50 points
Film Review #1	21 February	50 points
Film Review #2	21 March	50 points
March Madness Analysis	11 April	100 points
Internet vs. Print Journalism	25 April	100 points
Film Review #3	2 May	75 points
Journal	6 May	200 points
Discussion questions/participation	ongoing	50 points

28 March	<>1) Discussion of college athletes, recruiting, and Feinstein, The Last Amateurs. <> See NCAA site: http://www2.ncaa.org/academics_and_athletes/ as well as Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete distributed in class. You should look through A Call to Action: Reconnecting College Sports and Higher Education – Report of the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics -- June 2001 http://www.ncaa.org/databases/knight_commission/2001_report/. 2) As Congress investigates the use of steroids by major league baseball players, the question of drug use among athletes has catapulted into contemporary discussions about sport. Use the links below, as well as the materials distributed in class, to prepare to discuss this topic in class. Please note that you will need to "subscribe" to the online editions of these newspapers--there is no cost involved. Special section of the New York Times: Steroids in Baseball -- some of these materials will be distributed in class. The Washington Post's coverage of the hearings can be found by going to washingtonpost.com and clicking on sports; see also the section of Frequently Asked Questions about the hearings. ESPN.com's coverage of "The Steroid Scandal" U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform (the committee that held the hearings); see especially the Davis/Waxman Letter to MLB and MLBPA on MLB Testing Policy and Response Letter from Government Reform Chairman Davis and Ranking Member Waxman to Major League Baseball Attorney Stanley Brand
4 April	No class – Final Four!
11 April	March Madness Analysis due. See criteria developed in clas s. Film viewing/discussion: Friday Night Lights and discussion of H.G. Bissinger, Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream. Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m.
18 April	Film viewing/discussion: A League of Their Own and discussion of Patricia Brown, A League of My Own (copies will be distributed in class). Submit two questions or topics for our discussion by email to Dr. Rosoff by 10:00 a.m.
25 April	Internet vs. Print Journalism – assignment due and class discussion.
2 May	Film Review #3 due by 4:30 p.m.; these can be sent electronically as a Word attachment or brought to my office (393 Armitage Hall). Makeup date in case any classes are snowed or rained out.
6 May	Journals due to my office (393 Armitage Hall) by 1:30 p.m.