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Pastime, Disciplinary Tool, Mass Culture: A Global History of Sports circa 1700-2000
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:40:40
Abstract
The course gives an overview of the historical trajectories of sports and games in various parts of the world since 1700. It seeks to understand sports as leisure activity, method of physical (self-) optimization, political tool and form of mass Entertainment and explores the interrelation of games and sports with moving forces of modernity such as capitalism, colonialism and consumer culture.
Objective
On one level, the course aims to familiarise students with the historical development of an ubiquitous aspect of modern everyday culture, namely leisure, sports and play. Each case study is used to deepen the participants' understanding of complex historical transformations by telling the story of what has been termed "the ludic diffusion" from a decidedly non-eurocentric, global perspective.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , MSC
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Pastime, Disciplinary Tool, Mass Culture: A Global History of Sports circa 1700-2000 |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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GESS Science in Perspective (Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "GESS Science in Perspective" courses. Further below you will find courses under the category "Type B courses Reflections about subject specific methods and content" as well as the language courses. During the Bachelor’s degree Students should acquire at least 6 ECTS and during the Master’s degree 2 ECTS. Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.)
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Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents (Subject-specific courses: Recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the same course again. All these courses are listed under the category “Typ A”, this means, every student can enroll in these courses.)
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