Why are sport stars central to celebrity culture? What are the implications of their fame?
Proceeding from a broadly based discussion of heroism, fame and celebrity, Smart addresses a number of prominent modern sports and sport stars, including Michael Jordan (basketball), David Beckham (football), Tiger Woods (golf), Anna Kournikova and the Williams sisters (tennis).
He analyses the development of modern sport in the UK and USA, demonstrating the key economic and cultural factors that have contributed to the popularity of sport stars, while examining issues such as race and gender, the impact of professionalization, growing media coverage, the role of agents and the increasing presence of commercial corporations providing sponsorship and endorsement contracts.
This book situates the sport star as the embodiment of the various tensions of age, class, race, gender and culture. It argues that sporting figures possess an increasingly rare quality of authenticity that gives them the capacity to lift and inspire people. The book is a major contribution to the sociology and culture of sport and celebrity.
| ISBN: | 9780761943501 |
| Publication date: | 24th August 2005 |
| Author: | Barry Smart |
| Publisher: | Sage an imprint of SAGE Publications |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 217 pages |
| Series: | Theory, Culture & Society |
| Genres: |
Sociology |
Why are sport stars central to celebrity culture? What are the implications of their fame?
Proceeding from a broadly based discussion of heroism, fame and celebrity, Smart addresses a number of prominent modern sports and sport stars, including Michael Jordan (basketball), David Beckham (football), Tiger Woods (golf), Anna Kournikova and the Williams sisters (tennis).
He analyses the development of modern sport in the UK and USA, demonstrating the key economic and cultural factors that have contributed to the popularity of sport stars, while examining issues such as race and gender, the impact of professionalization, growing media coverage, the role of agents and the increasing presence of commercial corporations providing sponsorship and endorsement contracts.
This book situates the sport star as the embodiment of the various tensions of age, class, race, gender and culture. It argues that sporting figures possess an increasingly rare quality of authenticity that gives them the capacity to lift and inspire people. The book is a major contribution to the sociology and culture of sport and celebrity.
The Sport Star features in the following genres: Sociology
The Sport Star is available in Paperback, Hardback
The Sport Star was written by Barry Smart and published by Sage an imprint of SAGE Publications
The Sport Star has 217 pages
Yes it is part of Theory, Culture & Society series
£190.80