Sports and Society

About this course: Sports play a giant role in contemporary society worldwide. But few of us pause to think about the larger questions of money, politics, race, sex, culture, and commercialization that surround sports everywhere. This course draws on the tools of anthropology, sociology, history, and other disciplines to give you new perspectives on the games we watch and play. It's the new and improved version of Professor Orin Starn's original "Sports and Society" for Coursera, which drew more than 40,000 students. We will focus on both popular sports like soccer (or “football,” as anyone outside America calls it), basketball, and baseball, and also lesser-known ones like mountain-climbing and fishing. You will never watch or think about sports in the same way again.

Created by:  Duke University

• Taught by:  Orin Starn, Professor

  Cultural Anthropology

Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

Certificates

Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.

Duke University Duke University has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. The university has a strong commitment to applying knowledge in service to society, both near its North Carolina campus and around the world.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Getting Started! Games, Play, and Sports



7 videos, 7 readings expand

1. Reading: The Course Basics (note: all essential class information here!!!)
2. Reading: Links to Course Readings
3. Reading: List of Key Terms
4. Reading: Grading Policy
5. Reading: About the Instructor
6. Reading: The Sports and Society Book Club (optional)
7. Reading: The Sports and Society Movie Club (optional)
8. Video: Understanding Play and Sports, Part 1
9. Video: Understanding Play and Sports, Part 2
10. Video: Why Do We Like to Play? Part 1
11. Video: Why Do We Like to Play? Part 2
12. Video: The Origins of Modern Sports, Part 1
13. Video: The Origins of Modern Sports, Part 2
14. Video: Capoeira

Graded: Week 1 Quiz

WEEK 2


Globalization, Nationalism, and the Politics of Sports



7 videos expand

1. Video: The Globalization of Sports
2. Video: Nationalism and Sports, Part 1
3. Video: Nationalism and Sports, Part 2
4. Video: Athletes and Social Activism, Part 1
5. Video: Athletes and Social Activism, Part 2
6. Video: American Football, Part 1
7. Video: American Football, Part 2

Graded: Week 2 Quiz

WEEK 3


Race, Cultural Identity, and the Sports World



9 videos expand

1. Video: Race and American Sports, Part 1
2. Video: Race and American Sports, Part 2
3. Video: The Native American Mascot Controversy
4. Video: The Social Demographics of Sports, Part 1
5. Video: The Social Demographics of Sports, Part 2
6. Video: Zidane and Bruce Lee, Part 1
7. Video: Zidane and Bruce Lee, Part 2
8. Video: Golf, Part 1
9. Video: Golf, Part 2

Graded: Week 3 Quiz

WEEK 4


Gender, Sexuality, and the Rise of Women's Sports



9 videos expand

1. Video: A Short History of Women’s Sports, Part 1
2. Video: A Short History of Women’s Sports, Part 2
3. Video: Women’s Sports Today, Part 1
4. Video: Women’s Sports Today, Part 2
5. Video: The Long Sporting Life of Homophobia, Part 1
6. Video: The Long Sporting Life of Homophobia, Part 2
7. Video: The Transgender Athlete
8. Video: The Fitness Revolution, Part 1
9. Video: The Fitness Revolution, Part 2

Graded: Week 4 Quiz

WEEK 5


Why Do We Care So Much about Sports?



6 videos expand

1. Video: The Phenomenon of the Fan, Part 1
2. Video: The Phenomenon of the Fan, Part 2
3. Video: The Dark Side of Fandom
4. Video: Father Time and the Athlete
5. Video: American College Sports, Part 1
6. Video: American College Sports, Part 2

Graded: Week 5 Quiz

WEEK 6


The Megabusiness of Sports



4 videos expand

1. Video: The Hypercommercialization of Sports, Part 1
2. Video: The Hypercommercialization of Sports, Part 2
3. Video: The Rise of Sports Video Games, Part 1
4. Video: The Rise of Sports Video Games, Part 2

Graded: Week 6 Quiz

WEEK 7


Outdoor Sports, Extreme Sports, and the Search for Adventure



6 videos expand

1. Video: Outdoor Sports, Part 1
2. Video: Outdoor Sports, Part 2
3. Video: The Strange Case of Extreme Sports, Part 1
4. Video: The Strange Case of Extreme Sports, Part 2
5. Video: Skateboarding
6. Video: Conclusion

Graded: Week 7 Quiz