Hoops: A Cultural History of Basketball in America (American Ways)

Name: Hoops: A Cultural History of Basketball in America (American Ways)
Price: 34.00 USD
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Book Synopsis: From its early days as a sport to build “muscular Christianity” among young men flooding nineteenth-century cities to its position today as a global symbol of American culture, basketball has been a force in American society. It grew through high school gymnasiums, college pep rallies, and the fits and starts of professionalization. It was a playground game, an urban game, tied to all of the caricatures that were associated with urban culture. It struggled with integration and representations of race. Today, basketball’s influence seeps into film, music, dance, and fashion.

Hoops tells the story of the reciprocal relationship between the sport and the society that received it. While many books have celebrated specific aspects of the game, Thomas Aiello presents the only contemporary cultural history of the sport from the street to the highest levels of professional mens and womens competition. He argues that the game has existed in a reciprocal relationship with the broader culture, both embodying conflicts over race, class, and gender and serving as public theater for them. Aiello places cultural icons like Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant in the context of their times and explores how the sport negotiated controversies and scandals. Hoops belongs on the bookshelf of every reader interested in the history of basketball, sports, race, urban life, and pop culture in America.

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Discover the untold story of basketball in America with Hoops: A Cultural History. This captivating book takes you on a journey from the sport's humble beginnings to its position as a global symbol of American culture today. Explore how basketball grew from a means to promote "muscular Christianity" in the nineteenth-century to becoming a playground game tied to urban culture.

Experience the struggles the sport faced with integration and representations of race, and how it became a powerful force in breaking down societal barriers. Hoops dives deep into the game's influence on film, music, dance, and fashion, showing how it has seamlessly integrated with multiple art forms. Thomas Aiello, with his insightful writing, provides the only contemporary cultural history of basketball, covering everything from street games to professional competitions.

Immerse yourself in the lives of iconic players like Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant, understanding how they shaped the sport and were shaped by the times they lived in. Witness how basketball acted as a public theater, embodying and challenging conflicts related to race, class, and gender. No other book offers such a comprehensive exploration of basketball's impact on American society, making Hoops a must-have for any reader interested in the history of basketball, sports, race, urban life, and pop culture in America.

Ready to explore the cultural history of basketball? Step into the world of Hoops and unlock the secrets of this iconic sport. Get your hands on Hoops today!

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