Temples of the Earthbound Gods: Stadiums in the Cultural Landscapes of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.42 (811 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0292718802 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 285 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-03-02 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Using the football stadium as an illuminating cultural lens, "Temples of the Earthbound Gods" examines many aspects of urban culture that play out within these monumental architectural forms, including spirituality, violence, rigid social norms, anarchy, and also expressions of sexuality and gender. Tracing the history of the game in Brazil and Argentina through colonial influences as well as indigenous ball courts in Mayan, Aztec, Zapotec, Mixtec, and Olmec societies, Christopher Gaffney's study spans both ancient and contemporary worlds, linking the development of stadiums to urbanization and the consolidation of nation building in two of Latin America's most intriguing megacities.. In Rio de Janeiro, the spiritual home of world football, and Buenos Aires, where a popular soccer club president was recently elected mayor, the game is an integral part of national identity
I highly recommend Temples of the Earthbound Gods as both a lively read and an insightful reflection on sports and society in Latin America. (Brian J. Godfrey, Department of Earth Science and Geography, Vassar College Journal of Latin American Geography 2009-01-00) . Written for both academic and general audiences, the book seems appropriate for undergraduate or graduate teaching as well as more widespread readership
codyfunk said Not just for soccer fans. I was expecting a tightly focused work addressing soccer stadiums in Brazil. While it was certainly that, it was so much more. I'd recommend this read for anyone headed down to Rio or B.A.; soccer ultimately defines the culture there, so to say this is a book simply about soccer stadiums would be missing the point. It's a book about the culture, evolution, and broader global acceptance o. "Entertaining, relevant, and educational" according to A.F.. This book is very simply eye opening. It completely changed the way I now look at stadiums and sporting events. I have always been interested in urban population patterns but had never considered the significance of sports. Gaffney shows first how important sports can be to defining a people and how the stadium becomes the mechanism through which this happens. He goes onto examine the ri. Dr. K. said Soccer fan. Gaffney captures the spirit of sport and place in a lucidly written book. The first chapter draws the reader into the body of the work. As I read, I was taken by the way in which the author explores the layers of complexity with confident analyses that respect the beautiful game and those who watch it. Well worth a look.
. Also a journalist and local radio commentator, he has played soccer on four continents, winning the 1997 Taiwanese Footballer of the Year Award. Christopher Thomas Gaffney is an independent scholar based in Durham, North Carolina