EUH4674H-0201
Sports & Society in the Ancient World
Peter L. Larson BHC 127
Office: Colbourn Hall 537 MW 4:30-5:45 p.m.
Telephone: 407-823-6466 Fall 2011
Email: Credit: 3 units (3,0)
Course home page: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~plarson/EUH4674H_11.htm
Office Hours: WF 2:30-3:30 p.m. & by appointment
Course Description
Modern society is fascinated with sports and sports-like entertainment, and with ancient sports and spectacle, often evoking the past in a modern context. The aim of this course is to provide a background in ancient Greek and Roman concepts and practices of both athletics and athletically-based spectacles and also to compare them to modern revivals and analogues. Drawing on a variety of disciplines from history to archeology to modern sports studies, we will approach these games through close analysis of primary sources of varying media (from Greek vases and Roman letters to modern documentaries, newspaper articles, and government reports) and depictions on film. We will examine not only past and present but the intersection of the two, including concerns past and present (such as amateurism, cheating, and excessive violence) to understand the connections between sport and society.
Objectives
· To introduce students to the sites and practices of ancient sports and spectacles.
· To explore the importance of sports and athletics socially, politically, culturally, and religiously.
· To examine modern revivals and imitations of ancient sports and spectacles, their links to the originals, and the various cultural and political implications.
· To practice interdisciplinary approaches to History through collaborative research with modern media and technologies.
Required Texts
The following books are required and may be purchased at the UCF bookstore:
· Allen Guttmann, The Olympics: A History of the Modern Games, 2nd ed. (University of Illinois 2002).
· Donald Kyle, Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World (Wiley-Blackwell, 2006).
· David Clay Large, Nazi Games: The Olympics of 1936 (Norton, 2007).
Optional Texts
We will be reading a number of selections from the following book. However, it is available online through the UCF library, so I am listing it here only if you would prefer to own a hard copy:
· Arete: Greek Sports from Ancient Sources, ed. by Stephen G. Miller (University of California, 2004). ISBN 9780520241541
Course Assignments
4
Greek Athletics Essay 15%
Book Review of Nazi Games 10%
Exams 30%
Wiki Project/Paper 20%
Participation 25%
4
Grading
Here are the criteria that I use when assigning letter grades on assignments, and for your final grade.
93.00 to 100 = A 77.00 to 79.99 = C+
90.00 to 92.99 = A- 73.00 to 76.99 = C
87.00 to 89.99 = B+ 70.00 to 72.99 = C-
83.00 to 86.99 = B 60.00 to 69.99 = D
80.00 to 82.99 = B- 59.99 and below = F
Assignments
Participation & Conduct in the Course: I expect you to act professionally - that is, to attend all classes, to complete required readings and analyze them before class, and to participate actively. Cell phones, pagers, and beepers must be off during class, and taping of lectures is forbidden without my express permission.
Discussion Questions: You are expected to come to class each day with at least 5 questions based on
the readings, which we will use to generate discussion. These may be collected.
Ancient Athletics Essay: Short (3-5 page) essay on choice of assigned topics (posted on the website).
Book Review: Academic book review (2-4 pages) of David Clay Large’s Nazi Games.
Wiki / Essay: To give you a chance to explore aspects of the course in greater depth, students will work in small groups to develop a Wiki page on a topic related to the course. Any student who does not wish to participate may replace this with an additional written assignment (7-10 pages). There will be presentations for both the Wikis and the papers at the end of the semester.
Exams: There will be an in-class midterm examination and a take-home final examination. The midterm exam may be made up only if the absence is excused.
Extra Credit: I do not offer individual extra-credit assignments.
General Writing Assignment Policies
Spelling, grammar, and style count as per the online Grading Criteria. Most errors can be avoided by using both a spell and grammar checker, and by setting them to “formal.” I prefer Chicago-style footnotes, but I will accept other professional styles if used correctly and consistently.
Drafts & outlines: I am happy to discuss your papers with you before they are submitted; I will look at outlines and drafts and provide comments regarding content, argument, and basic style (I do not proofread).
Late Papers: All papers are due at the beginning of class. Otherwise, you have until the beginning of class one full week later (e.g., if the paper is due on Monday, you have until the following Monday) to turn in the paper with a penalty of one full letter grade. After that, papers will be accepted but the grade will be halved (e.g., an 88 becomes a 44). If you had an excused absence, the due date usually becomes the first class when you return.
Extensions: Extensions are at my discretion. If you know that there is going to be a problem regarding a due date, see me as soon as possible.
Rewrites: I will allow a rewrite (with penalty) of a paper at my discretion, and this option will be offered when the paper is returned.
Other Course Policies
Attendance Policy: You are permitted three unexcused absences. Beginning with the fourth absence, you will lose 1 point per absence from the points allotted for Participation after that grade has been calculated. Excessive tardiness will be treated as unexcused absences.
For an absence to be excused, I must have written proof that your absence was beyond your control, e.g. a doctor’s note, a memo from your boss that you were called in unexpectedly, and so forth. For illnesses, I require a doctor’s note explaining that you were under care and unable to attend class.You may black out any personal information. Please note: failure to find parking, self-diagnosis, etc., are not excused absences.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the presentation (consciously or unconsciously) of someone else’s words or ideas as your own, whether you paraphrase another scholar’s words too closely or you cut-and-paste or purchase an entire paper on the internet. Plagiarism is not limited to published works; it includes other students’ papers and web sites. You are certainly allowed to quote works by others when proper reference is given, but under no circumstances should you incorporate someone else’s work into your own without proper citation. Unreferenced use is plagiarism.
Plagiarism is a serious offence. If I detect plagiarism, the assignment will receive a 0; depending on the severity, there may be further penalties within the course, department, or university. If you have any questions or concerns, please see me or the University Writing Center; also, the UCF Library has a module on citations and plagiarisms. Finally, if in doubt, cite it!
Office Hours: You can find me in my office during my office hours, or see or email me for an appointment.
Disability Statement: Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course must contact me at the beginning of the semester, and then again in a timely manner before assignments where accommodations are required. Students must be registered with Student Disability Services, Student Resource Center Room 132, phone (407) 823-2371, TTY/TDD (407) 823-2116.
Schedule of Classes
Readings in the textbooks (Kyle, Guttmann) are assigned for the week. Other readings (Arete, handouts) should be completed for the day under which they are listed.
Week 1 – Ancient Sport - Kyle: Introduction, Chapters 1-2
M Aug 22 Introduction
W 24 Ancient Sport
Week 2 – The Development of Athletics - Kyle: Chapters 3-5
M 29 The Origins of Ancient Greek Sports
Arete: Readings 1-2 [Note: most assignments in Arete are by reading #, not by page #.]
W 31 The Olympics: Myth & Reality
Arete: 3-8, 18-19, 81
Week 3 – The Olympics - Kyle: Chapter 6
M Sept. 5 NO CLASS – Labor Day
W 7 The Olympic Games
Arete: 20-21, 25-29, 32, 37-38, 44-50
Week 4 – The Olympics & Other Ancient Games - Kyle: Chapters 7-8; skim Chapter 11
M 12 Olympic Games (continued)
Arete: 83-85, 87-90, 94, 97-98, 103-105, 109-113, 118
W 14 Other Games
Arete:73-80, 119-120
Week 5 - Ancient Athletics - Kyle: Chapter 10 (also, skim Ch. 12)
M 19 What did it mean to be an Athlete?
Arete:127, 140, 149-150, 153-154, 163-164, 179, 189
W 21 Controversies; The Spread of Greek Athletics Athletics Essay due
Arete: 190-191, 207-208, 210, 214, 241, 251
Week 6 - Roman Games - Kyle: Chapters 13-14
M 26 Do you like films about Gladiators? - Short film clips – the gladiator genre
Handout on Gladiatorial Life
W 28 Roman Spectacles
Arete: 194-197, 201, 203
Week 7 - Roman Spectacles - Kyle: Chapter 15
M Oct. 3 Gladiators & Charioteers - Long film clips
Handout on the Spartacus Revolt
W 5 Ancient Criticism of the Games; Christianity and Greco-Roman sports
Handout: Martyrdom of Vibia Perpetua
Week 8
M 10 Discussion: Ancient Athletes & Games: Myths & Realities
W 12 Midterm
Week 9 – Transitions - Guttmann: Introduction, Chapter 1
M 17 From Ancient to Modern ; Rebirth of the Olympics
Handout: Coubertin
W 19 Wiki Work Day
Week 10 – Rebirth of the Olympics - Guttmann: Chapters 2-4
(note: Thursday is the Withdrawal Deadline)
M 24 The Growth of the Olympics
W 26 The Berlin Games, 1936
Week 11 – The Nazi Games
M 31 Film: Olympia (1938) excerpts
W Nov. 2 Discussion: Olympia and Nazi Games
David Clay Large, Nazi Games
Week 12 – WWII and Race - Guttmann: Chapters 5-7
M 7 WWII and the Cold War
W 9 Race and Terror - One Day in September (1999) Nazi Games Critique due
Week 13 – The Modern Age - Guttmann: Chapters 8-10 (skim Ch. 8)
M 14 Nationalism & Boycotts
W 16 From the Cold War to the Cola Wars / Wiki troubleshooting
View the end of the USA/ USSR game:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRALJyv86eY
Week 14 – Modern Problems - Guttmann: Chapters 11-12
M 21 Modern Problems I: Doping; the Amateur Question
W 23 Wiki Work Day
Thanksgiving Break
Week 15 – The Future of the Olympics - Guttmann: Chapter 13
M 28 Modern Problems II: Human Rights & the Environment
Handout: Congressional Hearings
W 30 Looking Ahead: 2012 and 2014
Explore the London 2012 official site: http://www.london2012.com/
M Dec. 5 Take Home Final Due by 6pm
F Dec. 9 Wiki/Term Paper Due by 5pm
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