1st Edition

Consuming Football in Late Modern Life

By Kevin Dixon Copyright 2013
    168 Pages
    by Routledge

    168 Pages
    by Routledge

    Consuming Football in Late Modern Life explores the phenomenon of football (soccer) fandom as consumption in the age of late modernity. By centralising fandom within the sociology of consumption, the book examines how this phenomenon equates to a fluid series of consumption activities that are practiced in the course of everyday life. In turn, the work departs from much of the existing literature that features exceptional properties of fanatical fans, in order to emphasise the position that seemingly trivial acts of consumption can have a profound influence on the construction, maintenance and evolution of football fandom cultures. Containing up to date research findings derived from a programme of interviews with a sample of football fans, Kevin Dixon examines the social, emotional, economic and technological implications of consumption as fans participate in and respond to the demands of consumer life.

    Chapter 1 Introduction:; Chapter 2 Football Fandom as Consumption:; Chapter 3 Theorising Football Fandom as Consumption:; Chapter 4 Learning the Game:; Chapter 5 Consuming Corporate Values:; Chapter 6 The Routinisation of Football Consumption in Late Modern Life; Chapter 7 Conclusion;

    Biography

    Kevin Dixon is Senior Lecturer in Sports Studies, Teesside University, UK.

    A Baker & Taylor Academic Essentials Title in Sports ’This is an academic book about football, written by a genuine football fan. The result is a work that is both scholarly and accessible as it charts the relationship between football fandom and consumerism and gives a voice to fans from one of the game’s heartlands - the north east of England. Recommended reading for anyone who cares, for whatever reason, about football.’ Alan Bairner, Loughborough University, UK ’One of the strengths of Consuming Football is the integration of empirical research to help explain the fluid nature of everyday consumption practices amongst football fans. The book is original, interesting, and provides a timely theoretical analysis of the demands of modern consumer life within the culture of football fandom.’ Jamie Cleland, Loughborough University, UK 'In Consuming Football in Late Modern Life, he combines empirical research with the consumption practices of football fans. ... This book considers a different perspective of fandom, describing it within the concept of consumption. In doing so, it examines how, over time, consumption has impacted the overall culture of football fandom. The author’s perspectives on the consumerism of football are insightful and intriguing, making Consuming Football in Late Modern Life a most informative and enjoyable read. ... Although scholarly in nature, Consuming Football in Late Modern Life has an interest level and engaging writing style that would appeal to a wide array of readers. ... the book would most likely be of greatest interest to sports researchers and would also serve as an excellent resource for both undergraduate and graduate level courses that attend to sport and society or the sociological impacts of sport.' Annals of Leisure Research