Baseball has long been considered America’s “national pastime,” touted variously as a healthy diversion, a symbol of national unity, and a model of democratic inclusion. But, according to Michael Butterworth, such favorable rhetoric belies baseball’s complicity in the rhetorical construction of a world defined by good and evil. Baseball and Rhetorics of Purity is an investigation into the culture and mythology of baseball, a study of its limits and failures, and an invitation to remake the game in a more democratic way. It pays special attention to baseball’s role in the reconstruction of American identity after September 11, 2001. This study is framed by a discussion that links the development of baseball to the discourses of innocence and purity in 19th-century America. From there, it examines ritual performances at baseball games; a traveling museum exhibit sponsored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum; the recent debate about the use of performance-enhancing drugs; the return of Major League Baseball to Washington, D.C., in 2005; and the advent of the World Baseball Classic in 2006. Butterworth argues that by promoting myths of citizenship and purity, post-9/11 discourse concerning baseball ironically threatens the health of the democratic system and that baseball cannot be viewed as an innocent diversion or escape. Instead, Butterworth highlights how the game on the field reflects a more complex and diverse worldview, and makes a plea for the game’s recovery, both as a national pastime and as a site for celebrating the best of who we are and who we can be.

Baseball and Rhetorics of Purity: The National Pastime and American Identity During the War on Terror (Rhetoric, Culture, and Social Critique)

Politics & Social Sciences

Butterworth, Michael L.

Social Sciences

University Alabama Press

Offering the most comprehensive and diverse approach to the study of communication and sport currently available at the undergraduate level, this book helps readers understand sports media, rhetoric, culture, and organizations from both micro and macro perspectives. Espistemologically diverse and theoretically grounded, the book explores youth, amateur, and professional sports through the lens of mythology, community, and identity.

Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field

Billings, Andrew C.

Turman, Paul D.

Sports & Outdoors

Sage Publications, Inc.

The Second Edition of Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field offers the most comprehensive and diverse approach to the study of communication and sport available at the undergraduate level. Newly expanded to incorporate the latest topics and perspectives in the field, the New Edition examines a wide array of topics to help readers understand important issues such as sports media, rhetoric, culture, and organizations from both micro- and macro- perspectives. Everything from youth to amateur to professional sports is addressed in terms of mythology, community, and identity; issues such as fan cultures, racial identity and gender in sports media, politics and nationality in sports, and sports and religion are explored in depth, and provide useful, applied insight for readers. Practical and relevant, epistemologically diverse, and theoretically grounded, the Second Edition of Billings, Butterworth, and Turman’s text keeps readers on the cutting-edge.

Turman, Paul David

Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field, Third Edition examines a wide array of topics necessary to understand sports media, rhetoric, culture, and organizations from micro- to macro-level issues. All levels of sports are addressed through varied lenses such as mythology, community, and identity. The Third Edition isnewly expanded to incorporate the latest topics and perspectives in the field such as fan cultures; racial identity and gender in sports media; politics and nationality in sports; crisis communication in sports organizations and more.

Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field provides students with an understanding of sports media, rhetoric, culture, and organizations through an examination of a wide range of topics. Authors Andrew C. Billings and Michael L. Butterworth address everything from youth to amateur to professional sports through varied lenses, including mythology, community, and identity. A comprehensive focus on communication scholarship gives attention to the ways that sports produce, maintain, or resist cultural attitudes about race, gender, sexuality, class, and politics. The Fourth Edition includes new interviews with prominent figures in the field and new discussions on current events like the Black Lives Matter movement and the COVID-19 pandemic.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Butterworth, Michael L.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Butterworth, Michael L.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Butterworth, Michael L.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Baseball and Rhetorics of Purity: The National Pastime and American Identity During the War on Terror (Rhetoric, Culture, and Social Critique)

Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field

Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field

Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field

Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field