Clothes and caps: An exploration of the thing-power of objects and activism at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Author:

Brice Julie E.1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. California State University Fullerton, USA

Abstract

Building upon a rich body of literature around politics and the Olympics, this article explores the role of objects in political activism and protest at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Inspired by new materialist theory, Jane Bennett's vital materialism, and her concept of thing-power (2010) , this research thinks about the ways in which objects in the Tokyo 2020 games were lively and agentic players in developing assemblages and discussions around social inequalities at the Games. To accomplish this, the project conducted a thematic analysis of international popular press published during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to explore the thing-power of two objects (unitards and a swimming cap). In so doing, this article explores the ways in which objects were integral actants and helped ignite conversations around gender, the sexualization of female athletes, and the racism and exclusionary practices of elite swimming. The article finishes with a discussion of the thing-power of objects and how a different ontological approach (i.e. one that values nonhuman matter) has implications for athlete protest, policy development, and addressing social inequalities and injustices within sport.

Funder

Olympic Studies Centre

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Social Sciences (miscellaneous),Sociology and Political Science

Reference66 articles.

1. (2021) German gymnasts dared to break tradition and should change scenery for women in sport. CE Noticias Financieras English. (accessed 27 April 2022).

2. Braids, beads, catsuits and tutus

3. Chapter 3: Blocked Out; Athletic Voices and WNBA Uniform Politics

4. Foucault in Leotards: Corporeal Discipline in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics

Cited by 1 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

1. Elite athlete activism, advocacy, and protest: a scoping review;European Sport Management Quarterly;2023-12-07

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3