Foucault, Sport and Exercise: Power, Knowledge and Transforming the Self - Hardcover

Markula-Denison, Pirkko; Pringle, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415358620 ISBN 13: 9780415358620

Publisher: Routledge, 2006

Synopsis

Michel Foucault’s work profoundly influences the way we think about society, in particular how we understand social power, the self, and the body. This book gives an innovative and entirely new analysis of is later works making it a one-stop guide for students, exploring how Foucauldian theory can inform our understanding of the body, domination, identity and freedom as experienced through sport and exercise.

Divided into three themed parts, this book considers:

• Foucault’s ideas and key debates
• Foucault’s theories to explore power relations, the body, identity and the construction of social practices in sport and exercise
• how individuals make sense of the social forces surrounding them, considering physical activity, fitness and sport practices as expressions of freedom and sites for social change.

Accessible and clear, including useful case studies helping to bring the theory to real-life, Foucault, Sport and Exercise considers cultures and experiences in sports, exercise and fitness, coaching and health promotion. In addition to presenting established Foucauldian perspectives and debates, this text also provides innovative discussion of how Foucault’s later work can inform the study and understanding of sport and the physically active body.

About this title

Synopsis

It is common for researchers in sport to make reference to Foucault or Foucauldian theory. This text offers an overview of work in this area, and explores the potential of Foucauldian theory to inform the study of sport, fitness and physical activity.

About the Author

University of Bath, UK University of Waikato, New Zealand

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0415358620
• ISBN 13: 9780415358620
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 264