Kirsty Anne Prescott
April 24th(Due Date April 23)
ANT1001 TV24A
Accounting( 2nd yr.)
April 24th(Due Date April 23)
ANT1001 TV24A
Accounting( 2nd yr.)
Baseball Magic by George Gmelch
George Gmelch's piece Baseball magic is a classic example of a piece makes you rethink what you thought you knew. I would have never linked a relationship between Religion and the practices that baseball teams or individuals have on a day to day basis. It has now become evidently clear that these practices, whether it be eating in a particular spot everyday, or going to church faithfully every Sunday, have tremendous effects on our everyday lives.
Gmelch who presents his case with American baseball players, shows the various taboos and fetishes that these players have and they believe that these rituals are linked to their winning or losing a game. The most alarming factor is that these professional players forget or rather ignore the fact that they posses true abilities and skill, which is how they go onto the team in the first place. They idolize prized possession that they believe give them luck and the lack of these rituals or failure of these rituals doesn't stop them, but merely makes them create new ones to fit their needs. It is as if their skills got them into the sport, but their rituals keep them playing!
These players are not too far from me in my everyday life. If i studied in a particular way and earned good grades, it is more likely that i will continue this study practice and it then becomes a ritual until it fails and i create another one. It seems to be a common trend with the human species, it is how we make sense of the unknown.
Throughout Gmelch ethnography the most common trend that these players had was that they were trying to have control over what they deemed uncontrollable. These rituals gave them stability and hope that they have some effects over reality and even if the winning or losing the game had no co-relation, the fact that they might be able to control the outcome was thrilling.
Overall, we all part take in rituals on a daily basis , whether it be brushing our top teeth before the bottom, eating the skin off the fried chicken last, and it helps us cope with the day to day uncertainties of life. My main conclusion , it is not the power of the rituals that make us satisfied, but the power we give to the rituals that make us feel like we are in control and are masters of uncertainty.
Bibliography
Glench, George. "Baseball Magic." Mc Curdley and Spradley. Conformity and Conflict Special Ed:Person Education Inc.2008
Gmelch who presents his case with American baseball players, shows the various taboos and fetishes that these players have and they believe that these rituals are linked to their winning or losing a game. The most alarming factor is that these professional players forget or rather ignore the fact that they posses true abilities and skill, which is how they go onto the team in the first place. They idolize prized possession that they believe give them luck and the lack of these rituals or failure of these rituals doesn't stop them, but merely makes them create new ones to fit their needs. It is as if their skills got them into the sport, but their rituals keep them playing!
These players are not too far from me in my everyday life. If i studied in a particular way and earned good grades, it is more likely that i will continue this study practice and it then becomes a ritual until it fails and i create another one. It seems to be a common trend with the human species, it is how we make sense of the unknown.
Throughout Gmelch ethnography the most common trend that these players had was that they were trying to have control over what they deemed uncontrollable. These rituals gave them stability and hope that they have some effects over reality and even if the winning or losing the game had no co-relation, the fact that they might be able to control the outcome was thrilling.
Overall, we all part take in rituals on a daily basis , whether it be brushing our top teeth before the bottom, eating the skin off the fried chicken last, and it helps us cope with the day to day uncertainties of life. My main conclusion , it is not the power of the rituals that make us satisfied, but the power we give to the rituals that make us feel like we are in control and are masters of uncertainty.
Bibliography
Glench, George. "Baseball Magic." Mc Curdley and Spradley. Conformity and Conflict Special Ed:Person Education Inc.2008
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