Dear all,
You’d think that by this time I would have gotten used to the proclamations of Christmas time’s a’coming well over a month ahead of it actually appearing, but no. It doesn’t help, of course, that as I’m getting older the Yuletide festivities tend to lose much of their attraction. Add to that an increasing, and increasingly blatant, commercialism, and this old boomer is rapidly losing interest.
But enough with the whining already! Last week the following items were published on idrottsforum.org (see below; language and publication dates, YYMMDD, in brackets). Click on the red headings to go to content. Utilize the Google Translate service to turn Scandinavian language pages into (some sort of) English.
Have a great week,
Kjell Eriksson
Editor
Research Article
Sosial inkludering i e-sport [Social inclusion in e-sports] by Vegard Berglund & Anne Tjønndal
The purpose of Vegard Berglund’s and Anne Tjønndal’s study is to investigate social integration within e-sports and social side effects of participation in organized e-sports. They have studied this through qualitative interviews with five managers in Norwegian e-sports clubs. What experiences do managers of Norwegian e-sports clubs have of social inclusion and social side effects of e-sports for young people? The results show that participation in e-sports contributes to the same social side effects that are attributed to other, traditional sports. (Article in Norwegian, published 221118; English abstract available.
Feature Article
Social Media Hedonism and the Case of “Fitspiration”: A Nietzschean Critique, by Aurélien Daudi
In this feature article, Aurélien Daudi summarizes his article in Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, in which he presents his study of the widespread social media culture surrounding fitness, ‘fitspiration’, and the way it encourages self-sexualization and self-objectification and thereby epitomizing a wider issue with photo-based social media in general. Utilizing two doctrines central to Nietzsche’s philosophy – The Last Man and his conception of the ‘higher self’ – Daudi argues that fitspiration involves a form of hedonism that is potentially harmful to the pursuit and achievement of human flourishing. (Published in English 221115.
Book Reviews
I det vita och det blå: Malmö FF:s matchtröjor genom tiderna [In white and blue: Malmö Football Club jerseys through the ages] by Ole Törner & David Ellerth
Done right, a match shirt in combination with a club badge is something that defines a football club. MFF has, despite some deviations, that continuity and tradition. Therefore, the basis of Ole Törner’s and David Ellerth’s In the white and the blue: Malmö FF’s match shirts through the ages (Memory Lane) is a gigantic shirt collection. Sports historian Torbjörn Andersson is impressed by the jerseys, but with the researcher’s eye he also calls for deeper and more systematic digging in history, and for more questions and answers. (Book in Swedish, review in Swedish published 221114.)
Horse Racing the Chicago Way: Gambling, Politics, and Organized Crime, 1837-1911 by Steven A. Riess
Horse Racing the Chicago Way: Gambling, Politics, and Organized Crime, 1837–1911 by Steven A. Riess (Syracuse University Press) explores the role of political influence and class in the rise and fall of thoroughbred racing, as well as the business and social significance of racing. Our reviewer is cycling historian Duncan R. Jamieson, a frequent and diligent contributor to idrottsforum.org. Professor Jamieson shares some personal racing memories as a backdrop to his knowledgeable and appreciative review. (Book in Swedish, review in Swedish published 221116.)
New Issues of Scholarly Journals
(We rely heavily on journal publishers delivering on their promises of new issue alerts. Sometimes they don’t.)
- Leisure Sciences, Volume 44, 2022, Issue 8 (221114)
- Journal of Intercollegiate Sport, Volume 15, 2022, Issue 2 (221114)
- Journal of Sport Management, Volume 36, 2022, Issue 6 (221115)
- Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Vol. 62, July 2022 (221115)
- Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, Volume 13, 2022, Issue 3 | Curriculum possibilities, creative readings, and transformative practice (221116)
- Communication & Sport, Vol. 10, 2022, No. 6(221116)
- Loisir et Société / Society and Leisure, Volume 45, 2022, Issue 1 (221117)
- Journal of Sport & Social Issues, Vol. 46, 2022, No. 6 (221120)
- International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Vol. 57, 2022, No. 8 (221120)
News items (calls for papers, vacancies, etc.)
- The 2023/2025 edition of the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme has been launched. Apply no later than January 30, 2023 (221114)
- Free online event | Back of the Net: How Sporting and Political Goals Coincide and Contradict | The Political Studies Association (PSA) Annual Lecture, December 15, 2022 (221114)
- Vacancies | Doctoral students in Sports Science specialising in the humanities and social sciences, to Malmö University. Apply no later than January 16, 2023 (221115)
- Watch the keynotes from the 11th Czech Philosophy of Sport Conference, held at University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, October 21–23, 2022 (221115)
- Call for Papers | “The Menstrual Cycle, Physical Performance & Participation”, Special Series for the Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal. Call ends June 30, 2023 (221116)
- Call for Papers | The 19th Macintosh Sociology of Sport Day Conference (In-Person and Livestreamed) | Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, January 28, 2023. Call ends December 12, 2022 (221117)