Higer/popular culture

Higher/popular culture task

The two texts I’m analysing are the premier league and polo. The reason people like polo is dependent on their upbringing, as polo is sort of reserved for people who are of higher class, as with polo you need certain etiquette to even be a spectator of the sport, people who like polo have grown up around the sport from a young age. However football is a sport for all of the classes and doesn’t have any boundaries. Whereas polo is a sport for privileged people, football allows any to watch or take part in the sport. People like football for several reasons. Similar to polo you may have been raised watching the beautiful game with your dad for example, another reason would be that the sport itself is beautiful. Anyone can play the sport. It doesn't matter if you're scrawny and 5'2". It doesn't matter if you're 6'7" and have biceps the size of my head. It's such a great game for anyone to play. And finally the passion and dedication from football fans is unparalleled to any sport in the world, many people simple enjoy the sport as they get a sense of belonging when supporting team.

Both sports can be described as art. However watching football doesn’t require skill however to a certain extent watching polo does take skill as there are many codes when watching polo, for example dress code. When playing both sports it takes a huge amount of skill to be a premier league player and a good polo player. In both of the sports the players have trained there whole life to become as good as they are.

F.R. Leavis supported the view that higher culture is morally beneficial, I do believe polo is morally beneficial to a certain people I believe that football is also if not more morally beneficial, proving that it’s not only higher cultural practices that can be good for moral. I do believe though that polo; and higher culture is much more civilising compared to popular culture. This is mainly because with polo you don’t see the fans going as mad as a March hare while watching the game. Also in many football matches violence does occur when fans start fighting other fans as well as this in football there is racism, this is mainly because anybody can watch football so there are a few bad eggs within the fans. Racism and fighting would never happening in a game of polo that is why I believe it is more civilising compared to football. When it comes to inspiration I feel football inspires more people than polo ever will. This is mainly because football has no boundaries. You don’t have to be brought in a 5 bedroom house in Hertfordshire, go to a private school and 2 horses to be a football player whereas in polo you generally do so not many people become inspired by these upper class people who have had an easy life. Many of the world’s greatest football players, Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane for example. Come from unprivileged backgrounds, this means many young people who don’t come from a rich family become inspired by these stories and feel as if they can relate, and think if they can overcome being poor and turn out to be the best footballers ever, they can to. This is an example of the inspiration and hope football gives to millions of kids around the world.

Polo is a higher cultural practice due to it being exclusively for the elite classes in society. Football is a popular culture practice due to it having no restrictions and being easily accessible for everyone.

Personally I value football the most. The reason I value football over polo is due to how anybody can become a fan of the sport you don’t need certain credentials to be a football fan or player, the best football players ever come from unprivileged background, which others a huge amount of hope and inspiration to millions of people. Also I believe that atmosphere in football makes it much a much better spectator sport compared to polo. Although football isn’t the most civilising sport it gives people the chance to go crazy and escape the pressure of everyday life even if it is just for one day of the week, the passion people have for their favourite team is what makes the sport rather endearing . However, the biggest factor in to why I don’t value polo is because I was never brought up in the right environment to be a polo fan or player.