Sports and American Society

Undergraduate credit

Sports serves as the historical lens through which the class analyzes the development of American society. We consider how race, gender, nationalism, sexuality, and economic class informed popular athletics through time. This course will examine the rise and fall of various sports and athletic pastimes within the United States. Will trace the relationships between sports and American society from the first competitive games to the present. The focus will be to consider which sports came to represent the celebration of individuals, groups, or the nation at particular moments. Crucial elements of race, class, gender, nationalism, sexuality, and gender will be in play.