Contemporary sporting subcultures are an opposition to mainstream sport and society. Modern society stresses that individuals reduce risk in the pursuit of improving their life. For example, students spend roughly 16-20 years educating themselves in order to make themselves appealing to the corporate world, which emphasizes what is referred to as a “culture of caution” (Morrissey, 2008) in our society. Sporting subcultures seek to find a release from the ‘risk society’. Individuals use the thrill of risk and adventure sport in order to gain a sense of fulfillment not found in their everyday lives.
One good example of this would be the sport of skiing and snowboarding. As discussed in the podcast these risk and adventure sports are typically practiced by the upper-middle class because of the high price tag many carry. Additionally, many in the upper-middle class have very bureaucratic corporate jobs. As a result, many in this socio-economic class do not feel fulfilled by their day-to-day work and seek these subcultures to provide self-actualization. One of these subcultures is skiing and snowboarding and can be identified as such because it satisfies the four criteria that discussed in the podcast (Wheaton, 2000). Those who engage in this sport are given a thrill of the danger associated with …show more content…
Consequently, mainstream sport does not leave the participants with a sense of fulfillment because they are mere reflections of modern neoliberal society. However, one interesting observation is that many individuals do find self-actuation through identifying with subcultures that are fan groups of many mainstream sports rather than participating in the sport. This stems from the idea that neoliberal society is not reflected in the subcultures of the fan groups similarly to how risk and adventure sport rejects the same mainstream societal beliefs and
One good example of this would be the sport of skiing and snowboarding. As discussed in the podcast these risk and adventure sports are typically practiced by the upper-middle class because of the high price tag many carry. Additionally, many in the upper-middle class have very bureaucratic corporate jobs. As a result, many in this socio-economic class do not feel fulfilled by their day-to-day work and seek these subcultures to provide self-actualization. One of these subcultures is skiing and snowboarding and can be identified as such because it satisfies the four criteria that discussed in the podcast (Wheaton, 2000). Those who engage in this sport are given a thrill of the danger associated with …show more content…
Consequently, mainstream sport does not leave the participants with a sense of fulfillment because they are mere reflections of modern neoliberal society. However, one interesting observation is that many individuals do find self-actuation through identifying with subcultures that are fan groups of many mainstream sports rather than participating in the sport. This stems from the idea that neoliberal society is not reflected in the subcultures of the fan groups similarly to how risk and adventure sport rejects the same mainstream societal beliefs and