Gramsci

[Craig]

How useful is Gramsci’s theory of hegemony in understanding the transitions in Association Football at the close of both the 19th and the 20th centuries?

What do you guys think? :crylaugh:

[act smiley]

I know little about 19th century football, but there are links between it and football at the close of the 20th century. However, these are largely superficial. While it can be argued that the rise of corporate involvement within the sport in the late 20th century has parallels to hegenomic theory, with the use of mass media to form a false conciousness to perpetuate capitalist interests within the sport, the development of these interests in the first place moves counter to hegenomic theory, in which the masses would adjust their viewpoint to that of the hegenomic power - something which has not entirely happened, as the hegenomic power has clearly altered their position with regards to the acceptability of football within society, in order to exploit it. However, under Gramscian thinking it can be seen that hegenomic power has been created over the sport, with the development of institutions, such as FIFA which are clearly controlled by those with commercial interests as opposed to those of the masses. The interesting factor is the comparison of football related campaign groups, and even the foundation of clubs such as AFC Wimbledon and FCUM, bears little resemblance to a war of position and more closely resembles trade unions acting within existing frameworks.

I love wikipedia's ability to make bullshit so easy to create

[Daggers]

How useful is Gramsci’s theory of hegemony

Solitary Lover was infectious but really annoying in equal measure