Pages Within 12 Hours: Choose One And Respond

6-8 Pages Within 12hrschooseone 1of The Following And Respond In

Choose one (1) of the following prompts and respond in an essay of no fewer than six (6) and no more than eight (8) pages within 12 hours.

What were some of the “versions of manliness” embedded into college football in the late 19th century, and to what degree were they the same as, or different from, the versions of manliness embedded into prize fighting during the nineteenth century? Accept or reject the following thesis: The popular success of college football and prize fighting in the 1880s and 1890s was more the product of media coverage than of the sports themselves. Draw on assigned course readings and themes in the construction of your answer. It will be evaluated based on quality of answer, quality of prose, and level of familiarity it demonstrates with relevant assigned readings.

Responses which demonstrate mastery of relevant assigned readings and course themes will score well. Responses which demonstrate ignorance of relevant assigned readings and course themes will score poorly, no matter what other merits they might possess. For this reason, you are strongly advised to limit your supporting materials to those presented in the course.

Paper For Above instruction

The emergence of American sports in the late 19th century, particularly college football and prize fighting, reflected and reinforced specific ideals of masculinity that resonated with societal values of the time. Both sports served as platforms for demonstrating toughness, bravery, and physical prowess—traits traditionally associated with manliness. However, the ways these traits were emphasized, and the societal perceptions they cultivated, had nuanced differences rooted in their respective cultural contexts and media portrayal.

College football in the late 19th century embodied a version of manliness that integrated physical courage with notions of honor, teamwork, and strategic prowess. The sport's development paralleled the rise of "muscular Christianity," a social movement emphasizing physical strength aligned with moral integrity (Horsley, 2003). Football was viewed as a test of character, requiring players to display resilience and discipline on the field. The violent aspects of the game, including injuries and aggressive play, were often romanticized as demonstrations of masculine valor. Media coverage at the time popularized these virtues, glamorizing heroic gameplay and heroic narratives of individual grit (Miller, 2008).

Prize fighting, or boxing, during the same era portrayed a more visceral, raw expression of manliness rooted in physical endurance, boldness, and an acceptance of violence as a means to achieve masculine superiority. Unlike football, boxing was often associated with individual prowess, aggression, and outright toughness. The media played a crucial role in framing boxing as a spectacle of masculinity that celebrated dominance and resilience. Promoters and newspapers emphasized the fighters’ physical and mental toughness, often paralleling the sport to a moral battleground where strength and courage determined moral worth (Guttmann, 2004).

While both sports shared themes of rugged masculinity, the key difference lay in their social positioning and the messages conveyed. College football aimed to promote disciplined masculinity intertwined with civic virtue, often elevating notions of collective honor. Conversely, prize fighting emphasized individualistic toughness, often highlighting brutality and resilience, sometimes stigmatized as morally dubious by societal elites. Nevertheless, media coverage amplified these traits, shaping their cultural meanings and public appeal.

The thesis that the popularity of both sports was more media-driven than a reflection of their intrinsic qualities is compelling. The media's role in constructing narratives of heroism, toughness, and national pride significantly contributed to their appeal. Sensational journalism, theatrical promotion of matches, and the romanticized portrayal of athletes fostered public fascination independent of the sports' inherent features. Thus, media coverage not only popularized the sports but also crafted specific images of manhood that aligned with contemporary ideals.

In conclusion, college football and prize fighting in the 1880s and 1890s mirror societal ideals of masculinity, though expressed differently within their cultural contexts. The media’s role was pivotal in elevating these sports’ popularity by framing them as arenas of demonstrating manliness, suggesting that their societal success was indeed heavily mediated. Understanding this media influence helps clarify how cultural ideals are perpetuated through popular entertainment, shaping societal perceptions of masculinity in late 19th-century America.

References

• Guttmann, A. (2004). From rituals to riches: Amateur sport in America. Allyn & Bacon.
• Horsley, J. (2003). Muscular Christianity: Manhood and Sports in Protestant America, 1880-1920. University of Illinois Press.
• Miller, P. (2008). The social history of American sports. Routledge.
• Guttmann, A. (2004). From rituals to riches: Amateur sport in America. Allyn & Bacon.