Games and play constitute a part of everyday life. Formal or informal, solitary or shared, physical or virtual, realistic or fantastical, organised or spontaneous, games are a means of escaping the ‘real’ world, or exploring it in new ways. Shared values can be reinforced through play, either by celebrating those who display ‘virtue’ in resplendent forms, or shaming those we believe to be ‘bad sports’. But how are these norms of ‘fair play’ shaped, by whom, and how can they change over time? How can urban sports such as skateboarding and parkour be seen as ‘subversive’ and framed as a public menace, and yet offer opportunities for personal expression and communal belonging? How are video games shaping novel understandings of embodiment, avatars, and interaction, and how are e-sports influencing the future of play?
Meanwhile, more ‘traditional’ forms of sport are undoubtedly among the most influential institutions in Australian society. No less than three Australian Test captains and tennis players have been recognised as Australian of the Year. Prime Ministers and other political leaders desperately spruik their team affiliations as markers of their relatability, and Victoria has not one, but two public holidays dedicated solely to sporting events. But why is this the case? Why does sport seem to possess such an outsized influence in Australian society? And what implications does this have for the values, norms, principles, persons, and spectacles that we celebrate? Sport can unite and foster community-building, but it can also divide and be rife with forms of exclusion based on race, gender, sexuality, faith, age, and class. In short, sport may purport to be ‘fair’ while in reality proving ‘foul’. In this subject, we address cultural theories of sports and games, and explore how forms of play can engender more pleasurable, affirming, and accommodative social worlds.
This is a Level 3, online, entirely asynchronous subject, meaning there are no live lectures or tutorials, and instead students can work through the content on their own schedules (while, of course, keeping in mind the assessment deadlines). In 2024, this Term One subject will commence on January 8 and should finish before the last week in February. However, it is possible to submit the final assessment prior to the deadline and complete the subject. Students must have completed a minimum of 60 credit points of Level 2 subjects to enrol.
