"Darwin's Athletes": Sport and Ethncity

I think the significance of sport in the African American culture is extremely important. In this culture the importance of working hard and exceeding expectations is what will help you be successful in life through sport. I believe that people think that if you belong to the African American culture it is set that you have to be talented and athletic and the pressure of making it is high and expected. The Hollywood portrayal of the African American athlete is always the same. Talent, athleticism, potential is portrayed in Hollywood movies and I the documentary Hoop Dreams. On the other hand, Hollywood forgets to get in touch with the reality of things and this is what the documentary shows. Hollywood, always presents the character from the African American culture as being a good athlete, therefore they turn out to be successful. But, in Hoop Dreams we can see how it does not always turn out that way for all athletes, and many of them face a lot of struggle to make it to the top and in the end they don't even make it. I think sport is damaging Black Americans because sport expects African Americans to all be amazing and make it to the top, when in reality many do, but at the same time many don't. This mentality and Hollywood films preserve the myth of race because it is educating the public in a way in which the African American culture is expected to excel in sports and the reality of "life" is simply not a problem in their eyes.

Neira Ortiz-Ruiz

"You Throw Like a Girl": Sports, (Wo)men & the Gender Order II SP12

The commercial that I found features Serena Williams branding Nike. In this commercial young girls are getting ready for their "hot" tennis coach to show up by putting makeup on to look pretty for him. Once he gets there all the girls seem to be giving him "goo goo" eyes, but once they start practice in his eyes they all turn into Serena Williams. This commercial can be interpreted in many ways. One way in which it stereotypes women in sport is at the beginning of it showing how the little girls are preparing, not for practice, but to see their coach. Therefore, stereotyping the female gender as more focused on guys than their sport. Another way in which this can be interpreted is the fact that when the girls start playing they turn into Serena Williams. This could be interpreted as if having their coach there, and them trying to show off is what turns them into Serena. One of the consequences of the message that this commercial sends is that external factors are what help women be better in their sport. This stereotype should not be applied to women only, but I'm pretty sure that men get inspired with a little bit of encouragement from external factors, however male athlete commercials do not exactly represent this. Another consequence is that, in a way it teaches young generations that being pretty for your coach is what's important about the sport. Impressing others, not by your abilities, but by your beauty. Even though at the end of the commercial the words "you're faster than you think" come up, the way in which they are portraying a girls and Serena Williams is really gender stereotyped. Not only do we see it with the little girls, but when they turn into Serena, yes they do play well, but she still tries to maintain her lady like/flirtatious/feminine looking poses and face. Therefore, it is because of commercials like these and many others that in search of good branding the female gender is stereotyped and criticized against.   

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aux_esZYhC4

Neira Ortiz-Ruiz