C. Wright Mills "The Promise of Sociology" provided a interesting and new found perspective on the way individuals encounter society and the result of being a byproduct of the context in which you and your generation is found. Overall, the reading was somewhat difficult to understand though after in class discussions I feel that I have gained a firm understanding.
Mills (1959) writes "Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both" (p.1). This concept was one I had never examined as individuals are usually to preoccupied with their personal situations to ever place that within the context of society at large almost seems impossible. In my lifetime, I have only witness one occasion where individuals united as one and put history in its proper contact. This event occurred on September 11, 2001 when the United States was attacked by terrorist and for a brief period of time a country of individuals became an untied country focused on one matter. The scary thing about this is it took such a life altering experience to unite a country. Mills (1959) reflects this when he writes "They do not possess the quality of mind essential to grasp the interplay of man and society, of biography and history, of self and world" (p.1).
Applying Mills to Sport is interesting in that it’s written in such a manner that it can be applied to almost anything. Mills (1959) notes that "The sociological imagination enables its possessors to understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals" (p.1). One such example, occurred with Jackie Robinson and his club’s owner Branch Rickey who possessed the imagination that enable his professional career to be increased as a result of understanding an African American could play professional baseball.
Overall, I enjoyed the reading and its ability to be applied to several facets of life and I really am glad this was the first assigned class reading.
Until next time
I found Ian's thoughts on "The Promise of Sociology" (Mills, 1959) to be very insightful. I agree that the only recent event which has united our country in a common purpose was 9/11. However, the scary thing in my opinion is the response our nation has taken to the tragedy. Infringing upon privacy, using prisons in other countries to torture suspects, holding prisoners for years upon years without trial, invading two countries at a cost of over a trillion dollars, and creating a terrorist advisory system that serves little or no purpose other than cultivating a culture of fear has led me to wonder if uniting our society in a common purpose can actually lead to a good outcome. Had our country not been united in purpose, I doubt that many of these issues would have occurred.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you could see how this reading could be applied to sport, since, as you said, the sociological imagination could apply to most anything. I agree that it is difficult, but you took some good things from this reading. Just one thing--be sure to proofread.
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