Institute of Caribbean Studies, The University of West Indies at Mona

AR25S: Deconstructing The Culture of Sport

Lecturer: Mr. Donald Davis
Prequisite: None
Semester: 2
Credits: 3
Level: 2

RATIONALE:

This course introduces students to sport as a cultural ground for analysing and interpreting group dynamics in teams, clubs, institutions and, by extension, the nation. Various sports such as boxing, baseball, track and field, cricket, football, tennis and netball will be studied. The course is designed to sensitise students to the psychological, social, economic and political forces that impact on the development of sport in the Caribbean.

OBJECTIVES:

Students should be able to locate sport within a Caribbean socio-political framework
Students should demonstrate understanding of the development and contribution of sport in the psychosocial, cultural, economic and political spheres
Students should be able to interpret and assess the significance of sport in Caribbean societies

CONTENT:

Locating sports in Caribbean cultural groundation
History of Sport in the Caribbean/Jamaica
Theoretical approaches to Play and Sport
Sport as a Site of Resistance
Sport as a Site of Identity-formation and Leadership development
The Sports Industry in Economic Perspectives
Sporting Heroes and Heroines: Analysing profiles and performances of Sporting icons: Brian Lara, Merlene Ottey, Pele, etc.
Gender and Sports
Sports and Religion

TEACHING METHODS

Lecture/Discussion
Analysis of case studies and biographies
Group research and presentations
Use of videos
Analytical report on field trip

COURSE SCHEDULE: Weeks 1 - 12