Sports in the Americas

Undergraduate

This course seeks to understand the role sports has played, and continues to play, in the shaping of American hemispheric culture. As a course set within Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Studies, we will privilege the study of sports that are popular among people of the Americas, specifically fútbol (or soccer), boxing, baseball/softball, and animal-oriented sports (i.e. rodeo, horse racing, and bull-riding). People of Latin American or Latino descent constitute one-third to one-half of participants in these sports, and each one is enjoyed widely across many nations. We will seek to understand the conditions that led to their significant representation in these sports and why Latin American nations and Latino communities find these sports enjoyable to watch. In some cases, we will study how Latin American and Latino competitors navigated racial and gender barriers to their participation, and how and why they won the support of league officials, owners, teammates, and fans. We will also study the reception and staging of sporting events such as the Olympics, including the political and economic significance for host countries and communities. Finally, we will study the business of sports that has accelerated in the 21st century with publicly-funded arenas and stadiums, lucrative marketing and media deals for owners and players (including some college athletes), and online gambling. Our evaluation will consider how such investments in high-profile, high-stakes athletic competition influence the appeal of the sports we consume and participate in.