Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Correspondence to a mentor

I enjoyed the article also ("Us against Them" in Foreign Affairs), though I don't entirely agree with its conclusions. Franklin Foer makes a similar argument in "How Soccer Explains the World" when he holds Catalan nationalism up as a model of how it can be a benign force. But then, in general, Catalan region is much wealthier than the Balkans. As I watched the videos on youtube, one of the consistent factors in the "reality" for hooligans was relative poverty, though there are many exceptions.

I finally found the full hooligan video on youtube.com (the one dealing with Frm.
Yugoslavia) and thus was not surprised to read the soccer firms were involved in the
recent violence in Belgrade. According to interviews in the documentary, all sides are
still eager to fight/kill each other. To me this suggests the "solid" borders have done nothing to create stability beyond keeping everyone in their corner.

As soon as there is any interaction, or challenge to this status quo, the violence flairs up (e.g. Kosovo). The fact that much of this violence finds its expression around soccer culture lead me to think, as an peace-making tool, soccer is tainted, at least in this region.

Perhaps going the Laibach venue would be an idea. Can soccer be made in(to) a social mirror? This would something to ponder in the 3 chapter/conclusion, and to think about for the summer...

Sunday, February 24, 2008

"Just give me the damn takraw"

A most beutiful video from youtube.com:



"In the Malay Peninsula...a cross between football and volleyball called Sepak Raga was played with a light rattan ball. It has recently been formalized and modernized as Sepak Takraw - a compromise between the Malay word for kick and the Thai word for ball - but its roots are at least a few hundred years old and derive from its Chinese counterpart [Cuju]."
~David Goldblatt "The Ball is Round"

Friday, February 22, 2008

Culture is a verb

The violence in "that" region called the Balkans is once again based on "that" myth called nationalism. As I read the news stories and blogs about what is happening, I think back to Bjelic's comment from the MUN panel, that we have two choices if we want peace: accept the status quo of borders as they are, or dismantle them entirely. Kosovo didn't accept theirs, but they didn't dismantle them, rather they built new ones. Now Serbia is rejecting this challenge to the status quo, so we have violence. Now I read on Yahoo! that Serbian football hooligans are joining the fight. I appreciate that they are assisting me with my thesis, but my stomach turns at reading such things...

...I want so badly for soccer to be a game of peace, of pleasure, and of understanding, but it has so much violence in it.

Been thinking a lot about how culture is a construction. It isn't rooted in hard biological fact; we are not who we are, on a cultural level, because of DNA, but because of what was put into our brain as we grew up. Education (in its many forms) and experience are the two obvious culprits who "produce" culture. This, in itself is not such a radical idea, but people often react as if it is. How else are you going to have an identity? It does challenge the notion of a free will however, and maybe that is why it is controversial.

If culture is constructed, then it can be deconstructed. This means it is not a real thing, but simply something we create in order to make sense of the world around us. In many ways it is unavoidable. The fact that nature can be deconstructed means it can evolve and change; it is an active thing, not a static one. We should treat it as thus and reject racist ideas (like the Huntington thesis) of cultural status quo.

How often have you hear people say things like "well, X is like that because they come from ... and that's just how they are there!" As if to suggest the person could never change, never come to a new identity. It is no different from Huntington suggesting that certain cultures are unable to achieve democracy "because that's just the way they are". Crap!

This is why I love watching Predictions of Fire and the work of NSK, they challenge culture to be full aware of itself. Their method is to perform the rituals of culture, national identity, etc., in a stylistic manor, thus confronting people with their own identities, thereby forcing a self-reflection. As Zizek said, they are not the answer, only the question.

Can soccer be such a mirror? Can it be held up to the public eye and force introspection? Can the rituals be a subversive critique of social life? I thought about these questions as I went through my warm up 'ritual' before last nights game. It was the first time I had been so aware that my actions were in fact ritualistic in nature. Here is how it unfolded:

1)undressing, taking of clothing, selecting the 'uniform' that I felt most attracted to. Yesterday it was last years MeMUNC shirt with the number 7. The dark color was what did it. I wanted people to ask about it. I put on the Adidas socks and pushed them down to my ankle. Then the shoes, I looked them over, loosened the laces and put them on. The final touch is my black Nike sweat band.

2)music. I put on my Ipod and searched for music. Started off with some Immortal Technique, then moved on to the Prodigy. All aggressive stuff. It always is when I warm up.

3)Gym. I hit the gym for 30-45 minuets as a warm up. nothing to hard, just streatching, some upper body stuff and 15 minuets on the bike. But its always the same routine.

Then I am ready. Ipod goes back into the locker, and I head upstairs to the pitch. I feel like a soccer player now, I walk different, I feel different. This ritual of new skin, agressive music, and physical movement changes my mentality.

Now I can hold the mirror up to myself, how can I turn it on those fans going to Kosovo to have a tear up?

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Football Violence

'Been watching Football Factory International lately after D sent me the link to a 10 minuet clip about the famous match between Belgrade and Zagreb, which some claim was one of the sparks contributing to the conflict in the Balkans in the 1990's. It's a brutal video, and heart breaking too.

I moved on to watch as much of the series as I can find on youtube.com and found episodes on Poland, Turkey, and Russia. All violent and crazy, but at the end of the one on Russia, one of Danny Dyre's comments struck me. He said that for Russian, hooliganism, with its strict code of honor, had become a place of equality for many people. According to the show, the make up of these firm's is as diverse as Fight Club: lawyers, machinists, cleaners, shop keepers, etc. It makes sense that a country with massive inequality would latch onto those few things that provide equality.

In the firm's a cleaner can mash up a lawyer and fear no consequences. He might even earn the respect of the lawyer, who, in the civil world, would pay him no heed. These firms are not even breaking laws or endangering the public, as all the fights are pre-arranged, consensual, and outside of the stadiums. They are even claiming Russian heritage, preserving a tradition of bare knuckle fighting.

But is this an acceptable argument? Should this be allowed to continue as an outlet for the frustrations of everyday life? What does that say about a society? Or is violence inherent, and thus we should let it manifest in these, less harmful ways?

But then what of the Dynamo Zagreb V's Red Star Belgrade? The hooligan fight that helped start war, and whose participants were among the first to join up and go to the front lines. If this is the end result, then nothing can justify allowing a hooligan culture to continue. One of the fighters in the Russian firm from Spartak Moscow said this was what it meant to be Russian, it was his sense of national identity, and it was rooted in violence.

Multiculturalism, part II

Almost a year ago, while he was still just the lowly Exchequer, Gordo proposed all immigrants/migrants coming to the UK, seeking citizenship, be "obliged" to undertake community service.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6399457.stm

According to the BBC article, this was meant to assist in the integration of these people in British life. But this really amounts to a sort of slave labour, which conjures up images of a colonial past that ought not be repeated, yet seems likely to be. This idea of earning citizenship through a series of tests and labour means British citizenship has more value than any other citizenship in the world, and thus is an exclusive club of individuals who conform to a certain standard. Of course every country has a system like this, and thus we are all guilty of perpetuating this mentality of national superiority.

If we really believe in equality of nations, cultures, ethnicities, etc., then why care where the individual comes from? Why make it a requirement that this person become someone different in order to join your team? What difference does it make if this individual lives in your community as a Nigerian, a German, a Russian, an Argentine, a Malay, or a Brit? Does the small book confirming your national identity really make you a different person?

The conservative and liberal multiculturalists would argue it does. For the conservative, this is a symbol of your inferiority to the hegemonic culture you are trying to join; for the liberal this is a symbol of how you are different, and though its ok to be different, you are only 'authentic' in your Nigerian/German/Argentine/Malay-ness if you have the papers to prove it.

The Resistance/Critical approach is to view these "common" identities as both artificial and racist. The borders put up and maintained by the conservative/liberal approach amount to a desire for ideological purity, and a belief that even though there are multiple identities out there, they can/should never mingle beyond basic recognition of the other.

The critical response is to break the border down entirely, not only through a rejection of borders, "common" identities, and purist immigration policies, but also by fostering an understanding of these "other" individuals as individuals (from their own perspective). Furthermore, a critical multiculturalist will try to see themselves from the perspective of the "immigrant," thereby deconstructing their own position vis-à-vis this individual.

So, for Gordo to suggest there need to be harsher tests and formal labour for those migrants looking for citizenship is a way of forcing a new identity upon them, stripping them of their native one. Of course, this is all presented in a positive light, as the pathway to all the resources and wealth of the West, which is why the individual has left their original home in the first place. So its not meant as a racist, mean, exploitative policy, yet that is what it becomes. What the Americans call "exceptionalism" suggests that because of the clear superiority of a capitalist, democratic, enlightenment based identity, forcing 'others' to adopt likewise, is actually a good thing for the world.

But really, it is both anti-democratic, and anti-diversity.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Perfect contact

The ball seemed to hover just in front of me for what seemed like ages. It hung there, at the prefect distance from my feet. There was only one option. Players were all around me, but none had white shirts, so there were no passing options, plus the ball was asking to be smashed.

I was directly in front of the goal, but there were players in the way. There did seem to be a path through, so I went for it. I recoiled my leg, found the perfect balance (leaning slightly forward so as to keep the ball low), and swung...

...my laces shot connected perfectly, right off the perfect spot on my foot. The ball leapt forward at a blistering pace, but I knew it was going to be a powerful shot before it left my foot. I have always been blessed with a vicious right foot, and the gratifying feeling never diminishes. This one was no different, it felt good from the moment of contact.

But ultimately it was not as perfect as it felt, as the ball swerved to the right and missed the point I was going for. It also missed the goal. But by that point, the game moved on. Still, the feeling lingered and I relished it. Later I did manage a goal, but ironically it was a light tap in from a defense splitting pass.

The point of this entry is because I find it so amazing that in the 1 or 2 seconds that it took me to choose my options, and then make the shot, I went through an emotion transition, and had multiple thoughts as it was happening. Simply amazing.



I also really enjoy the crew that show up regularly. There are some great players, everyone gets along well, and there are almost never fouls or arguments. In someways, after two days of watching Football Factory International (documentary on hooligan culture), this is the perfect antidote. I can walk away from the game and feel good, physically and psychologically. It is a beautiful game, and lets me take my mind off things. In the wrong context, this leads to bad results, but not here. Here we are individuals from diverse back grounds coming together for some pure competition and out of love of the game.

Its a great thing...

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Getting a handle on Multiculturalism


In late March of 2006 Nigerian Adebowale Ogungbure was playing for 4th division Sachsen Leibzig when he was subjected to racist abuse from some hooligan fans at the end of the game. This was not the first time he had experienced this, but instead of ignoring it as he usually did, he responded. He gave the fans a Nazi salute and made the Hitler mustache with his two fingers; a response triggered a physical attack by the hooligans and later his arrest by German police.

The justification for the arrest was that such recreations of Nazi symbolism is illegal in Germany, regardless of context. Though his arrest lasted less than a day, it throws up serious questions about the nature of German law, the racism of the supporters, and the powerlessness of minority individuals such as Adebowale. In a sense, the player was arrested for exposing the true identity of the abusive fans, and the repressive nature of German 'order'. If the law banning the Nazi salute is meant to remove this mentality/ideology from the culture, it has clearly failed. While overt Nazi-ism is not widespread in German society, it is clearly still a presence. According to the Spiegle article, this is particularly the case in the eastern states where the economy is stagnant.

From a critical multiculturalist perspective this arrest is symbolic of a conservative approach to diversity, which suggests that assimilation into the hegemonic culture is the path to stability and equality. For minorities coming into the system, they can only be integrated once they have thrown away their own heritage and language in favor of those used by the hegemon. What this is doing is repeating the narrative of European powers during their colonial periods, where they invaded foreign countries and set up institutions, laws, and schools reflecting the homeland. The native populations were only 'acceptable' as more than savages when they passes through the socialization of the new power, rejecting their native culture.

Even the liberal multiculturalist view is no more comforting. The liberal approach is to view difference as inherent and 'in-and-of-itself' rather than a product of any kind of historical context. Thus the problems in minority communities today are the result of people who simply won't "get over it." This allows a hegemonic culture to reject the need for real re-evaluation of their relationship to this community. By accepting diversity and affirming their support for it through cultural events and diversity days, the hegemon is able to maintain distance from a true understanding of the needs of that community.

So when a young black man exposes some white fans for what they really are, ethnocentric and nationalist, he is viewed as a threat to the system as a whole. His actions are not interpreted in a "performative" context, but as foolish, insulting, or inappropriate. He is then charged with "unconstitutional behavior".

But what of the fans who set Adebowale off? The club president said simply it was a on off incident and put it down to fans getting over excited.

La depression, la réhabilitation

"Isis, o Isis, you're a mystical child. What drives me to you is what drives me insane. I still can remember the way that you smiled on the 5th day in May, in the drizzling rain."

This is probably not the best time in the world to revisit my Bob Dylan collection, but so it goes... Sadly my copy of Bring It All Back Home (my personal fav) has gotten lost somewhere. I guess Blood On The Tracks and Blonde on Blonde will have to do for now.

~~

Today's snow day is a major blessing. If it hadn't been called, I would probably have called out of work, then dragged myself down to Math class, felt increasingly depressed as a result, then debated going home and back to bed, or trying to get work done at the library. Most likely bed would have won.

Between the anxiety provoked by math and the thesis, the failure of a personal relationship has been too much to carry. But last night I rediscovered the restorative properties of Amnesty, wine and cashew chili. The potluck at Eileen's place was so relaxing and fun, I almost forgot how broken I feel. I have been wondering around on auto pilot this last week, worried that I will leave Maine and USM without ever having created lasting relationships. But I had forgotten the good people at Amnesty. They are all so positive, caring and engaged. I always get the feeling they really want me to succeed. Its almost like having family around, family without baggage.

Leo asked me why I had a picture of Ché on my Gmail account. I had a moment of panick, how the hell could I justify this to a group of Human Rights campaigners. The Che shirt I was wearing was burning a hole in my chest... Well, I gave it to them strait up: I was attracted to his charisma, his commitment, his desire to erase geographical, economic, and psychological borders. I loved the fact that he was willing to put the cause above his own life, and that he was uncorrupt, willing at all times to do the work he himself demanded of others. But I could never reconcile all this with his bloodlust, his abuse of human rights, his advocacy of war as the mechanism of change, and his failure as a father and husband.

To my relief both Leo and Liz had just read Anderson's Ché bio. They agreed with my opinion. My caveat is that I also associate Ché with my uncle, someone I respect immensely. Well, any way... At least I have the first chapter of the thesis written, and the second chapter is being penned this, and next week (almost two weeks ahead of schedule I might add...). So today I will recover a bit of energy and direction by sitting in the window, reading up on nationalism and racial identity, looking out the window, and contemplating. The Dao will be close at hand of course:

"Gaining or losing - which is the greater scourge?" Dao 44

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Thinking Matters Abstract

Title: Soccer in Politics: Identity, Power, and Nationalism

"The appeal of soccer to individuals of all cultures, genders, and ethnicities has made it the world sport. This popularity has not come without a price however, as most places with soccer cultures also see violence and discrimination.

Creating a theoretical framework based on theories of nationalism, power and identity will set the stage for this paper, after which a historical narrative of soccer focused on its colonial legacy will be constructed and analyzed. These two elements will provide a picture of a sport used to create myths of national superiority and to stir up tensions. Then, by studying cases of discrimination towards fans and players from “other” communities in Europe, the paper will place the modern game within the historical and theoretical narrative. Emerging from this is a sense of a society still repeating these racist and colonial narratives, through the import of foreign players under suffocating contracts, and the establishment of normative identities.

Left to consider are the questions of how so many international organizations can hold soccer up as panacea for social and economic problems and if the paradox of a sport that unites as it divides leaves the possibility of soccer as a performance of resistance?"

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Spam alot... and Victory


Who ever the wanker is who spamed my posts: piss off, as Michael Caine once said...

Watched Victory (1981) last night. Great film, with some excellent soccer shots, and a nice context for the thesis. The prisoners go up against the German National team during WWII, subversively trying beat the hegemon at its own game. They travel to the Stade Colombes in Paris (the venue for the 1938 World Cup final.

The prisoners include real players like Booby Moore and Pele. The plan is for the Resistance to spring them out the dressing room at half time. Everything is going according to plan, and the Germans are winning 3:1 at the half. But the players are so convinced they can win that they go back out and play the second half. As Pele said to Stallone in the escape tunnel: "this game means everything to us. You know that." In the end .... well that would give it away. You should watch it.

Anyway, I thought this quote would be relevant to the thesis. It is from an exchange between John Colby (Michael Caine) and Karl von Steiner (Max von Sydow):

VS: If nations could settle there differences on the football pitch. Wouldn't that be a challenge! How would you like to play a game against a team from the Wermacht? A team from the Army Base near by?

C: What for? Settle the War?

VS: Unfortunatly not. Lets say, for morale?

C: Yours or ours?

VS: For both. Life in this place must be very boring.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Free Time? Are you sure...

I'm (gladly) reading The Ball is Round at the moment in an attempt to get a good handle on the history (at least the western history) of footy. The game we watch today on TV or in the stadium, saw the light of day in England, in the midst of the industrial revolution. This was partly the case because people now had, some for the first time, disposable income that could be used to buy a ball, or go see the local team play. The other important factor in this is that urban workers, which populated the soccer world in the UK, were also beginning to have more free time. So not only could they afford the game, but they had the time to enjoy it.

This made me think of Adorno's essay on free time, and the whole industries catering to free time. As Adorno saw it, free time was really nothing of the sort, but rather an extension of the already highly regulated work day, full of norms and standards. His example of the expectation people have of getting a sun tan when on vacation, and the fact that entire industries have now sprung up to manufacture the sun tan, be it holiday resorts, airlines, tanning studio's, or spray bottles. Soccer is not so different.

In the early days of the game people just played where ever they could, when they could, and with anything from tin cans, to rag balls, but very quickly, regulations set in. Place to play were created, stadiums were built, foot ware was designed, and so on. Now, what this means is, for anyone using their "free time" to pursue soccer (either as a fan or a player, or both), they now had to do so within the prevailing norms. So once people had certain expectations of what soccer meant, how it was performed, etc, they were no longer really 'free' in their participation. Thus free time became a regulated time, only now, instead of the boss looking over your shoulder, the whole nation was doing it.

As government and industrial regulation of this culture increased, so did the level of manipulation of free time. Once people were into soccer, once it became a part of their identity, and the national identity, they were much easier to manipulate. Well, without wanting to get into "Imagined Communities" here, lets just say, at this point, soccer also became a contributor to the instilling of nationalism into individual identities.