The call for submissions for the WAU Congress 2024 in Johannesburg is now closed, and we thank all participants; paper evaluations will be ready on June 14.

WORLD ANTHROPOLOGICAL UNION

CONGRESS 2024​

SELECTED PANEL

( pn68 )

Football as a Sociocultural Phenomenon: Ethnographic Analyses and Contemporary Reflections

organizers

    Mariane da Silva Pisani

    Nationality: Brazil

    Residence: Brazil

    Universidade Federal do Piauí/Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Estudos do Futebol Brasileiro

    Presence:Face to Face/ On Site

    Matias Godio

    Nationality: Argentina

    Residence: Argentina

    Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero/Universidad de Buenos Aires

    Presence:Face to Face/ On Site

    Caroline Soares de Almeida

    Nationality: Brasil

    Residence: Brasil

    Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/ Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Estudos do Futebol Brasileiro

    Presence:Face to Face/ On Site

IUAES Affiliation: Anthropology of Sports

Keywords:

Football; Anthropology of Sport; Ethnography; Social Dynamics

Abstract:

Football is a complex sociocultural phenomenon capable of transcending its purely sporting dimensions, configuring itself as a significant locus for research that unveils intricate networks of human flows, ethical and political issues surrounding its practice, and its implications on and off the field. Anthropology is one of the fields of knowledge dedicated to understanding football. Its distinctive feature is enabling close and insider analyses, particularly from an ethnographic perspective, resulting in more detailed and specific ethnographies of this complex phenomenon. Engaging in an "Anthropology of Football" involves reexamining anthropological categories from fresh perspectives and ethnographic contexts. The resultant body of work delves into discussions on identities, nationalism, religiosity, gender, sexualities, race, social class, disability, intersectionality, art, state, myth, ritual, and more. These categories manifest in the inherent dynamics of the football universe. Anthropology also sheds light on players' and fans' narratives and experiences, emphasizing economic impacts on match locations and intricate relationships within clubs, among footballers, and the surrounding communities. This panel aspires to unite works discussing the world's most popular sport as a prolific ethnographic research field, interweaving with various social, cultural, and economic dimensions. Encouraging innovative approaches, including ethnographic case studies, critical analyses, and theoretical reflections, we aim to stimulate interdisciplinary dialogues and foster idea exchange. Through these efforts, we seek to deepen our comprehension of football as a reflection of contemporary social dynamics.

Curitiba: ABA Publicações

Brazil Publishing,, 2021. v. 1. 216p . *Godio, M.. Con una mano lo acaricias y con la otra lo abofeteas El club de fútbol y sus dirigentes en el imaginario de las profesiones: un campo de fuerzas en las formas experimentales del poder y la política en Argentina. Vibrant (Florianópolis), v. 6, p. 124-149, 2009. *Godio, M; Sazbon, D. 2012. “Fútbol y política. Historias, trayectos e identidades entre losdirigentes de los clubes platenses", Forjando 1:1, julio 2012, pp. 62-71. ISSN: 2313-9021 *Godi