The Cultural Politics of Lifestyle Sports PDF
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The Cultural Politics of Lifestyle Sports This important new study examines the changing place and meaning of lifestyle sports – parkour, surfing, skateboarding, kite- surfing and others – and asks whether they continue to pose a challenge to the dominant meanings and experi- ence of ‘sport’ and physical culture. Drawing on a series of in- depth, empirical case studies, the book offers a re- evaluation of theoretical frameworks with which lifestyle sports have been understood and focuses on aspects of their cultural politics that have received little attention, particularly the racialisation of lifestyle sporting spaces. Cen- trally, it re- assesses the political potential of lifestyle sports, considering if life- style sport cultures present alternative identities and spaces that challenge the dominant ideologies of sport, and the broader politics of identity, in the twenty- first century. It explores a range of key contemporary themes in lifestyle sport including: • identity and the politics of difference • commercialisation and globalisation • sportscapes, media discourse and lived reality • risk and responsibility • governance and regulation • the racialisation of lifestyle sport spaces • lifestyle sports outside of the Global North • the use of lifestyle sport to engage non-p rivileged youth. Casting new light on the significance of sport and sporting subcultures within contemporary society, this book is essential reading for students or researchers working in the sociology of sport, leisure studies or cultural studies. Belinda Wheaton is Principal Research Fellow in Sport and Leisure Cultures at the University of Brighton, UK. Her extensive research on lifestyle sport cul- tures has been published across a wide range of international journals and edited collections. She is also the editor of Understanding Lifestyle Sports: Consump- tion, Identity and Difference (Routledge, 2004) and The Consumption and Representation of Lifestyle Sports (Routledge, 2012). Routledge Critical Studies in Sport Series Editors Jennifer Hargreaves and Ian McDonald University of Brighton The Routledge Critical Studies in Sport series aims to lead the way in develop- ing the multi-d isciplinary field of Sport Studies by producing books that are interrogative, interventionist and innovative. By providing theoretically soph- isticated and empirically grounded texts, the series will make sense of the changes and challenges facing sport globally. The series aspires to maintain the commitment and promise of the critical paradigm by contributing to a more inclusive and less exploitative culture of sport. Also available in this series: Understanding Lifestyle Sports Consumption, identity and difference Edited by Belinda Wheaton Why Sports Morally Matter William J. Morgan Fastest, Highest, Strongest A critique of high-p erformance sport Rob Beamish and Ian Ritchie Sport, Sexualities and Queer/Theory Edited by Jayne Caudwell Physical Culture, Power, and the Body Edited by Jennifer Hargreaves and Patricia Vertinsky British Asians and Football Culture, identity, exclusion Daniel Burdsey Culture Politics and Sport Blowing the whistle, revisited Garry Whannel Olympic Media Inside the biggest show on television Andrew C. Billings Marxism Cultural Studies and Sport Edited by Ben Carrington and Ian McDonald The Gay Games A history Caroline Symons The Cultural Politics of Lifestyle Sports Belinda Wheaton This page intentionally left blank The Cultural Politics of Lifestyle Sports Belinda Wheaton First published 2013 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2013 Belinda Wheaton The right of Belinda Wheaton to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Wheaton, Belinda, 1966- The cultural politics of lifestyle sports / Belinda Wheaton. pages cm 1. Sports–Sociological aspects. 2. Extreme sports–Sociological aspects. 3. Sports and society. I. Title. GV706.5.W49 2014 306.4'83–dc23 2013004535 ISBN: 978-0-415-47857-1 (hbk) ISBN: 978-0-415-47858-8 (pbk) ISBN: 978-0-203-88817-9 (ebk) Typeset in Times by Wearset Ltd, Boldon, Tyne and Wear Contents Acknowledgements viii 1 Introduction 1 PART I The lifestyle sportscape: conceptual and theoretical issues 23 2 Understanding lifestyle sport revisited 25 3 Mapping the lifestyle sportscape 37 4 Lifestyle sport, identity and the politics of difference 49 PART II The case studies 69 5 Risk- taking and regulation: examining the sportisation of parkour 71 6 Globalisation, identity and race: lifestyle sport in post- apartheid South Africa 98 7 The California beach, whiteness and the exclusion of black bodies 121 8 Surfing, identity and race: belonging and exclusion 138 9 Challenging exclusion: the Black Surfing Association 163 10 Coda 180 Notes 187 References 203 Index 228 Acknowledgements There are many people who have inspired and supported me intellectually, pro- fessionally and personally along this slow, and at times painful and frustrating, journey. Carving out time to complete a project such as this book, which is based on a number of different research projects, is becoming harder and harder in the neoliberal university of the twenty-fi rst century. For a working mother, with young children, the challenges and compromises are even more acutely felt. I would like to acknowledge the support of the University of Brighton, and particularly my colleagues in Sport and Leisure Cultures: Dan Burdsey, Thomas Carter, Jayne Caudwell, Paul Gilchrist, Marc Keech, Gill Lines, Ian McDonald, John Sugden and Alan Tomlinson. They have provided a unique working environment, infused with intellectual passion and rigour, even in the face of increasing challenges. They have been patient and supportive, allowing me the time and space to complete this book. I am sure I have driven many of you round the bend and I sincerely apologise. To Simon Whitmore and his team at Routledge I apologise, again, for being (somewhere near) the top of your list of ‘bad authors’ and am relieved that I have now relinquished that position to someone else! My heartfelt thanks to the series editors Jennifer Hargreaves and Ian McDonald who, despite my numerous changes in direction and tardiness, retained their confidence in me! Jenny’s com- mitment to nurturing the development of sport sociology continues to amaze me, and her meticulous editing was well beyond the call of duty, and I am truly grateful. There are so many people across the international academic community I would like to thank who, over the past decade, have informed my work immeas- urably. Whether it was through formal academic exchanges, teaching courses, sharing offices or informal conversations at conferences, in pubs, on trains and aeroplanes, you know who you are! Particular thanks to Toni Bruce, Paul Gil- christ and Holly Thorpe, colleagues with whom I have greatly enjoyed working on projects that underpin parts of the book. Your openness and our conversa- tions have enhanced my understanding and analysis. Of course, all the errors here are my own. There are also several individuals who have given their time, that most precious of commodities, to read parts of this manuscript; with particular thanks to: Mike Atkinson, Becky Beal, Toni Bruce, Dan Burdsey, Acknowledgements ix Jayne Caudwell, Joanne Kay, Kyle Kusz and Louise Mansfield. Lastly, to my family, my partner Stuart, my kids Poppy and Ollie, and parents John and Mari- etta, I apologise for all the evenings spent in my office, the bedtime books not shared, school assemblies missed, family activities postponed. Thank you for giving me the time and space to complete this. I love you all.
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