If Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and George Herbert Mead were alive today and watching last Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIV, they would have probably enjoyed it with similar passions. However, even if all three were rooting for the same team, each one of them would be seeing the game with different perspectives.
Take Emily Durkheim, for example, a proponent of the functionalist sociological perspective which regards “sports as an almost religious institution that uses ritual and ceremony to reinforce the common values of a society” (Schaefer 18). Durkheim most likely would be admiring the patriotism, accomplishments, and competiveness of such young athletes, such as Malcolm Jenkins from the New Orleans Saints, or Pierre Garcon from the Indianapolis Colts. Furthermore, Durkheim would perhaps inform the young fans about how important it is to be involved in sports to maintain a physical well being. Durkheim would also commend both teams since, because of their performance; they were able to bring together many members of many communities together in the stadium as well as across America.
On the other hand, Karl Marx, an advocate of the conflict sociological perspective which argues “that the social order is based on coercion and exploitation” and that “sports reflect and even exacerbate many of the divisions of society” (Schaefer 18), would not keep his focus on the well being of the athletes, as would Durkheim, but at the profits that such sports can formulate. Marx would probably see the Super Bowl as an opportunity to increase profits for businesses in the Miami area and big businesses in advertisements. Marx, as a conflict theorist, would also probably tell the fans surrounding him that it is fine to once in a while enjoy a Super Bowl, or perhaps the Olympics, but not to over-do-it by ignoring their personal problems and social issues. Marx would conceivably reflect on does people that, because of the injustice of some societies, are not able to make it to the NFL, or participate in such events due to economical struggles.
Unlike Durkheim’s functionalist perspective, and Marx’s conflict views, the interactionists, such as George Herbert Mead, are more interested in the shared understanding of everyday behavior. As mead seats in the front row watching the Colts take a beat by the Saints, he would probably also notice a father and his son cheering for their favorite team. Mead might commend the father and tell him how great it is for him to show his son the sports, and that if he continues to introduce sports to his son one day the son will be one of the best players. Mead might also notice the team players from either side and see that despite their racial differences they are able to effectively communicate and trust each other. Mead might see this as an opportunity for people to get together and enhance their communication.
Perhaps Durkheim, Marx, and mead would end up arguing in the attempt to defend each unique perspective, but in the end they would agree upon that there is more to sports than just exercise or recreation.
