Fight Sports in America: Violent Rites of Manhood from 1607 to the Present: Salvation in Violence from 1607 to the Present - Softcover

Thrasher, Christopher David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0786497041 ISBN 13: 9780786497041

Publisher: McFarland & Co, 2014

Synopsis

Throughout America's past, some men have feared the descent of their gender into effeminacy, and turned their eyes to the ring in hopes of salvation. This work explains how the dominant fight sports in the United States have changed over time in response to broad shifts in American culture and ideals of manhood, and presents a narrative of American history as seen from the bars, gyms, stadiums and living rooms of the heartland. Ordinary Americans were the agents who supported and participated in fight sports and determined its vision of masculinity.

This work counters the economic determinism prevalent in studies of American fight sports, which overemphasize profit as the driving force in the popularization of these sports. The author also disputes previous scholarship's domestic focus, with an appreciation of how American fight sports are connected to the rest of the world.

About this title

About the Author

Christopher David Thrasher is the author of several scholarly articles on the history of fight sports. He lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Edition details

• Publisher: McFarland & Co
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0786497041
• ISBN 13: 9780786497041
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 300