The Sports Studies Symposium: Fandom, Fantasy, and Play

Announcing the 2nd annual Rockford College Sports Studies Symposium!

Fans play a central role at all levels and within various aspects of sport, so any study of sport would do well to consider their influences in connection to fandom, fantasy, and play. A specific and growing area of fandom, fantasy sports, illustrates a concrete and complex way fans relate to and even affect sport. This year’s symposium seeks to explore and examine these aspects of the relationship between fan and sport.

The first panel, held from 1 to 2:45pm, focuses on Fandom.

• Chad Carlson, Ph.D., (Eastern Illinois University): What is fan-based sport about anyway? The Popovich-Stern Issue and Normative Implications for Professional Sports;
• John Harney, Ph.D., (DePaul University): Japanese Baseball Culture at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century: Imperial Game or Adopted Pastime;
• Trish Phillips, Ph.D., (Mississippi State University): Fandom and Sport: Encouraging Hate.

The second panel, held from 3 to 4:45, will focus on fantasy and play.

• Aaron Harper, Ph.D. (West Liberty University): Playing with Nietzsche: Play, Nihilism, and Value Creation;
• Andrew Koehl, Ph.D. (Roberts Wesleyan College): Fantasy Sport and Aristotelian Flourishing;
• Carl Robinson, Ph.D. (Ashford University): Chasing The American Dream: A Chubby Fan(atic) Recalls His Favorite Professional Wrestlers.

Location: Grace Roper Lounge, Burpee Center, Rockford College, Rockford, IL
Date/Time: April 19, 2013; 1-5pm

Following the symposium, many of the participants will head over to Aviators Stadium to watch Rockford College Baseball take on Maranatha Baptist Bible College.