EUH4674 Sport & Society in the Ancient World
Dr. Peter L. Larson COMM 116 Office: Colbourn Hall 537 MTWR 2:00-3:50 p.m. Telephone: 407-823-6466 Summer B 2012 Email: [email protected] Credit: 3 units (3,0) Course home page: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~plarson/EUH4674_12.htm Office Hours: Wednesday 4:15-5:15 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, in particular the Modern Olympic Movement. 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. 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, government reports, and depictions in film.
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 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). Martin Polley, The British Olympics: Britain’s Olympic Heritage 1612-2012 (English Heritage, 2011). Stephen G. Miller, Ancient Greek Athletics (Yale, 2006). Arete: Greek Sports from Ancient Sources, ed. by Stephen G. Miller. 3rd ed. (University of California, 2004). Note: The UCF Library has this as an E-Book.
Course Assignments
Essay 15% Exams (3) 25% each Participation 10%
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 1 80.00 to 82.99 = B- 59.99 and below = F Assignments (further information on each will be available on the class website)
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.
Essay: A short (3-5 page) essay on an assigned topic. There will be three options, each due at a different time in the term: Ancient Greek Athletics Olympia Critique London 2012 Opening Ceremonies Critique
Which one you do is your choice; they will all be of equal difficulty. The essay must be turned in by its specific due date.
Exams: There will be three in-class examinations, one after each unit. Missed exams 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.
Outlines: I am happy to discuss your papers with you before they are submitted, and will look at outlines and introductory paragraphs (I will not look at drafts).
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 two unexcused absences. Beginning with the third 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.
2 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 and I will notify the Office of Student Conduct; 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 contact 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 should be completed for the day under which they are listed.
Week 1 M Jun 25 Introduction; Origins of Sport & Ancient Mesopotamian/Egyptian Sport T 26 The Origins of Ancient Greek Sports; The Need to Compete Miller: Chapters 1-3 Arete: Readings 1-2 [Note: assignments in Arete are by reading #, not by page #.] W 27 The Crown Competitions; Sport & Greek Society I Miller: Chapters 4-5 Arete: 3-8, 20-21, 25-29, 32, 37-38, 44-50 R 28 The Olympics Miller: Chapter 6 Arete: 81, 83-85, 87-90, 94, 97, 109-113, 118
Week 2 M July 2 Sport & Greek Society II Miller: Chapters 7-9 Arete: 119-120, 136-142, 144-146, 149-154, 158, 161, 176-177, 182 T 3 What did it mean to be an Athlete?; The Spread of Greek Athletics Miller: Chapters 10-11, 13-16 Arete: 163-175, 179, 188-190; 192-193, 198, 207-208, 210 W 4 [No class – Independence Day] R 5 Exam #1 – Greek Sport & the Ancient Olympics
Week 3 M 9 Post-conquest athletics; Roman Spectacles Miller: Chapter 12 Arete: 194-197, 200-204, 211-213 T 10 Do you like films about Gladiators? - Short film clips Handout on Gladiatorial Life W 11 Gladiators & Charioteers - Long film clips
3 Sources for the Three Slave Revolts http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/3slaverevolttexts.asp Read section C on the Spartacus Revolt
R 12 Ancient Criticism of the Games; Christianity and The Passion of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/perpetua.asp Read sections 10, 14-21 (skim the rest for context)
Week 4 M 16 From Ancient to Modern Polley: Chapters 2-7 T 17 Exam #2 – Roman Spectacles W 18 Rebirth & Growth of the Olympics Guttmann: Chapters 1-2 Polley: Chapters 1, 8-9 R 19 The Berlin Games, 1936 Guttmann: Chapter 4
Week 5 M 23 Film: Olympia (1938) excerpts & Discussion T 24 Film: Olympia (1938) excerpts & Discussion W 25 WWII and the Cold War Guttmann: Chapters 5-7 Polley: Chapters 10-11 R 26 Race and Terror - One Day in September (1999) & Discussion Guttmann: Chapter 9 F 27 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies see http://www.nbcolympics.com/ for the Olympics broadcast schedule see http://www.london2012.com/schedule-and-results/ for the full event schedule.
Week 6 M 30 Nationalism & Boycotts; From the Cold War to the Cola Wars Guttmann: Chapter 10 T 31 Modern Problems I: Doping; the Amateur Question; II: Human Rights & the Environment Guttmann: Chapters 12-13 (optional) W Aug 1 London 2012 Polley: Chapters 12-13 R 2 Exam #3: Modern Olympic Movement
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