cultural imperiaqlism
Cultural Imperialism and the Olympic Games Virtually since their resumption in 1896, every four years the press is filled with complaints about the intrusion of power politics into the Olympic games. David B. Kanin has commented that while we are told that international Olympic system idealizes and promotes fair play and sportsmanship and ameliorates struggle, hatred, and petty jealously through structured competition and international goodwill, the realist is that "international sport thrives on the very politics Olympic publicists decry (Kanin 1)." Nevertheless, the games are more or less 'political', than anything else. Ninety-five percent of the problems faced by IOC's president Killian involved national and international politics (Senn x). Further, it can be argued that what could be called 'cultural imperialism' has influenced and even shaped the games. Cultural imperialism at times facilitates inclusion of sporting events reflecting a host nations area of expertise or de-emphasizing sports that are popular with nations not in political favor. The following report will explore this issue up until the World War II games. The Olympic Games and the Olympic system have become, in some critical ways, actors on the g
This leads to the question of why Americans even got involved in the Olympic Games. Nevertheless, only two Jews, one a woman who lived in the United States, competed on the German team (Senn 54). Years after baseball became Cuba's national game, jai-lai became popular among Americans (Guttmann 175). British missionaries had forced peoples of Asia, Africa, and India to play cricket and soccer football against their will. Some feminists from the United States even argued that they should not be included in the Olympic Games. Nevertheless, Cultural imperialism has impacted the Games tremendously and its effects can even be seen in today's Games. Senn proves this point when he states, "Rather than being an autonomous institution into which politics creep uninvited, the Games and international sport themselves play a significant role in international politics as they embody conflict and tension (Senn xii). · In 1936 at the Berlin Games, Germany added a sport - 11 - a side handball- in which its own team excelled (internet). The Nazis were quoted as saying, "the Olympic Games are an infamous festival dominated by Jews (Senn 50). The United States is one of the largest Hegemons in the world, therefore, cultural imperialism is dominant in many of their sports and other Western nations. " However, others disagree stating that they view sport as a "transnational" rather than "international" phenomenon. Bob Fulton believes that when Pierre de Coubertan was first introducing the revived Games, American athletes and athletic associations were not particularly interested in participation. These types of nations could send the greatest number of skilled women athletes-increasing their chances of success. Also, certain cultural values have been forced into the Games and its ceremonies. One can argue, that Coubertin's efforts to re-establish the games were dominated by desire to revive France's power and credibility which had been damaged by the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian war of 1871 (Senn 20).
Common topics in this essay:
Africa India,
David Kanin,
Stockvis Dutch,
Olympic Games,
Games American,
Games Olympic,
France Coubertin,
Britain France,
Games Olympics,
Kanin Nazi,
olympic games,
cultural imperialism,
senn 50,
jews blacks,
berlin games,
olympic system,
world war ii,
games foster,
games olympic,
examples prove,
games nevertheless,
|
Acceptance Essays
