Sports: Culture, Biology, and Heritage

Catalog description

Sports are not just a form of play and entertainment; they are a window into who we are and what we value. In this course we will use an anthropological lens to examine the interactions between culture, biology, and heritage in sports. We will trace the evolution of human biomechanics and the role of cooperation and competition in the past. We will explore sports as a cultural context where we shape perceptions of class, race, sex, gender, and national identity. Sports are also big business, with economic consequences that are felt locally as well as globally. We will examine how sports are highly political, important spaces where policy and social norms are mediated. We will consider sports from across the globe and complement this with a deeper dive into sports and fandom in Buffalo. Whether you are an athlete, a fan, or just curious about the role of sports in our society, this course will encourage you to think critically about how sports impact our lives.