I’ve gotten various requests for my syllabi for the Soccer Politics class I teach at Duke University. I’ve posted the “itinerary” from Spring 2020 with the readings and movies we watch below. Note that the class is taught with multiple language sections, with students doing readings and papers variously in English, Spanish and French.
Duke University produced a multi-media piece about the class which includes interviews with students and details about how the multi-lingual sections work.
The majority of the student’s work for the class is posted on this blog. You can explore their work, including “Tournament Guides,” “Soccer Politics Pages,” “Guide to Global Soccer Blogs,” and short pieces called “Capturing the Game,” using the tabs above, Enjoy!
Itinerary
January 9: Introductions and Welcome
Reading:
Jenny Vrentas, “2019 Sportsperson of the Year: Megan Rapinoe,” and Grant Wahl, “The Sportspersonal Touch,” in Sports Illustrated, December 9, 2019
Laurent Dubois, “How to Really Watch the World Cup,” Vox, June 15 2018
Listening: Malcolm Gladwell, Revisionist History Podcast Season 1, Episode 6: “My Little Hundred Million”
January 14/16: Thinking the Game
Reading:
Christian Bromberger, “Football as World-View and Ritual,” French Cultural Studies 6 (1995): 293-311
Watching: Zidane A 21st Century Portrait
January 21/23: The Power of the Game
Reading:
All Sections: Edouardo Galeano, Soccer in Sun & Shadow (in section language)
Watching: Pelada
January 28/30: The Culture of the Game
Reading:
Edouardo Galeano, Soccer in Sun & Shadow (in section language)
February 4/6: Cultures of the Game in Latin America
Reading: Roger Kittleson, The Country of Football, Introduction and Chapters 1 & 2
February 11/13: Cultures of the Game in Latin America
Reading:
Roger Kittleson, The Country of Football, Chapters 3, 4 & 5
Grant Farred, Long Distance Love, Chapter 2
Watching: The Two Escobars
February 18/20
Introduction to Final Projects & In-Class Work Session
February 25/27: Global Cultures of Soccer
Reading:
English Section: David Winner, Brilliant Orange
French Section: Fatou Diome, Le ventre de l’Atlantique
Spanish Section: Juan Villoro, Balon dividido
March 3/5: Global Cultures of Soccer
Global Cultures of Soccer
Reading:
English Section: David Winner, Brilliant Orange
French Section: Fatou Diome, Le ventre de l’Atlantique
Spanish Section: Juan Villoro, Balon dividido
March 17/19: Cultures of the Game in Africa
Reading:
Peter Alegi, African Soccerscapes
March 24/26: Autobiographies of the Game
Reading:
English Section: Nick Hornby, Fever Pitch
French Section: Lilian Thuram, Le 8 Juillet 1998
Spanish Section: Edouardo Sacheri, Papeles en el viento
March 30/April 2: Autobiographies of the Game
Autobiographies of the Game
English Section: Nick Hornby, Fever Pitch
French Section: Lilian Thuram, Le 8 Juillet 1998
Spanish Section: Edouardo Sacheri, Papeles en el viento
April 7/9: The Futures of Global Women’s Soccer
Reading:
Gwendolyn Oxenham, Under the Lights and in the Dark
Laurent Dubois, “How Not to Scout for Soccer Talent,” The Atlantic (July/August 2018)
April 14/16: The Futures of U.S. Soccer
Watching: Once in a Lifetime and Soccertown USA
April 21
Concluding Lecture
In the Spring 2019 version of the class, which had a larger focus on women’s soccer, we also read:
Gail Newsham, In A League of Their Own: The Dick, Kerr Ladies 1917-1965
I have also co-organized two symposia linked to the course:
