Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Sport of it All
Similar to American culture and lifestyle the Romans enjoyed a bit of sport now and again. I found it intriguing how much after 2000 years we still have in common with the Romans. As they began to develop larger metropolitan areas, in particular Rome, there were games and festivities for everyone to enjoy. I cant help but think if the movie The Gladiator and how that effected me so much. I would like to say that the sports we have on television today are so much more wholesome then what the Romans were exposed to. The truth is that every time I watch football, soccer, heck even NASCAR (does not happen that often) I am waiting for the next BIG play or perhaps the next BIG hit. There are some sports that obviously are riskier then others, but one trend that is up and coming is Ultimate Fighting. This of course is where two individuals head to head punch, kick, scratch, claw... okay maybe not scratch and claw, but still, seeing the resemblance? I am sure the Romans began to be desensitized by bear on bear so they added bear on lion, then lion-bear on human. I know this is a bit of a rant, but what always struck me as being so odd about The Gladiator is how people could let something like that happen. Does it still happen, not in America, but who knows perhaps in other parts of the world this type of conduct still exists. We have more in common with the Romans as people then I thought, and the article 'A Brief Social History of the Roman Empire' seems to be all the case and point for it.
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4 comments:
I totally see your point Isaac and I agree. I also do the same when watching sports waiting for the next BIG hit or play. Ever watch America's Funniest Videos? The classic video of the kid practicing baseball or the pinata birthday party where the dad always gets hit in his nether regions and he is doubled over in pain and everyone laughs. Granted, this is not on the same scale but you see my point. It seems that we American's still have somewhat of the same view on entertainment in today's world.
I have taken a few Art History classes and in my latest Ancient Art in Italy, we talk alot about how horrendous the events at the ampitheater could be. My teacher informed us that thousands of anmals were killed just for the sake of sport, hundreds of slaves were kiled just to entertain. I find it amazing that none of this even phased the romans. This culture was so customed to it all, that i recall reading about a man whom was freed from slavery, but his master wanted him back and he said no, not only was he placed in the ampitheater with a lio but then still hanging onto life was burned on a stake in front of thousands of people. Screaming, cheering people. Anyone else find this extremely disturbing?
unfortunately there ARE blood sports on the underside of our country. you dont get to see them on Pay per View, but they are there. just look at the NFL quaterback last year who was put in jail for the dog fighting ring. I wonder if we wont see events like these podcasted, and eventually make it to the airwaves.
You know the sad trend that I see within media is that what ever sells, makes it to the air waves. I suppose within moderation, however, the scary thing is that even after 2000 years we still have not, and in my personal opinion, will never eradicate this type of blood thirsty behavior altogether. Haleya, I find the mob to be quite disturbing, I can take it at a game like football, but even then, when you get that many people cheering and jeering for very little reason what so ever, there is something very surreal, and at times disheartening. I am a big fan of the English Premier League (English soccer league), during those games people get in riots, fights, and some people die over a GAME. It is a bit frightening to think this still happens today.
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