MEP315 SPORT, MEDIA AND CELEBRITY 5. MEDIA SPORTS STARS
Origins of celebrity (Rojek 2001) (1) THREE historical processes: 1.The democratisation of society (POLITICAL CHANGE) 2.The decline of organised religion (RELIGIOUS CHANGE) 3.The commodification of everyday life (ECONOMIC CHANGE)
Meanings of celebrity (Rojek 2001) (2) THREE types of celebrity status: 1.ASCRIBED CELEBRITY: lineage (status predetermined; gained at birth) 2.ACHIEVED CELEBRITY: individual accomplishment (status gained through own actions/abilities/talent) 3.ATTRIBUTED CELEBRITY: endowed on individuals by others (status gained through public recognition/media exposure)
Sports stars and narrativity (Whannel 2002; 2007) (1) Whannels narrative functions:emergence of a striking talent; extraordinary feats accomplished; public celebration; secondary circulation of star image; displays of arrogance; a failure to deliver; public doubts; erratic behaviour; public scandal; failure; hero redeemed by performance; forgiveness; the power wanes
Sports stars and narrativity (Whannel 2002; 2007) (2) Biographies: the past, far from being fixed, is constantly being reinvented (Whannel 2002: 56) Golden success story: released shortly after a famous victory (e.g. player biogs after the 2003 Rugby World Cup win) Ups and downs: flawed genius, rise-and- fall, critical narratives (e.g. Ali accounts)
Cricket v. football (Smart 2005) British sports press allocated greater coverage to cricket pre-1960s The first media sports stars in Britain were cricketers (e.g. W. G. Grace) Cricket journalists like John Arlott were better known than football journalists Unlike cricketers, footballers remained local, w-class heroes and media coverage remained local / regional until the television age
Footballs labour relations (Giulianotti 1999) Pre-20thC – amateur status of footballers Pre-1960s players were slaves to their clubs and had little career mobility 1960 – Maximum wage abolished 1963 – Retain and transfer system abolished 1977 – Freedom of contract principle (out-of- contract players can negotiate their transfer) 1995 – Bosman case – clubs no longer receive financial compensation for out-of-contract player transfers
Gender construction of sports personalities (Lines 2002) Under-representation of female sports stars in the British press In many cases Photographic space prioritised glamorised, sexualised images of them (p. 200) Glamour girl Mary [Pierce] was a sensation at the French Open with her all black dress (The Sun, 25/6/96, p.27)
Sport stars versus other stars (Andrews and Jackson 2001 p.7-9) Status is achieved through meritocracy Sport is a universally valued, cross-cultural practice Stars contribute explicitly to a sense of local or national identity Realist figures, relatively short playing/ performing careers, unpredictable situations Sports stardom is insecure – PR, agents, etc. have limited impact on managing of success
Sporting stardom today – postmodern characteristics? Style over substance – the top stars often earn more income through image (e.g. advertising work) than performance The wild men in a hostile world (modernity figures like Clough and Best) replaced by PR- constructed, media-trained personalities fit for global consumption Clough as charismatic socialist authoritarian Retro culture – nostalgic representations of bygone eras fostered by players-turned-pundits