Date of Award
5-2010
Document type
dissertation
Access Type
Open Access Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Program
Political Science
First Advisor
Dean E. Robinson
Second Advisor
Sheldon Goldman
Third Advisor
Jenny Spencer
Subject Categories
Political Science
Abstract
This study examines the role of propaganda and popular culture in constituting the American political tradition through the study of NFL films by employing a decidedly overlooked theoretical conception of the American political tradition—the countersubversive tradition thesis. Originally put forth by Michael Rogin, the countersubversive tradition is defined as “the creation of monsters as a continuing feature of American politics by the inflation, stigmatization, and dehumanization of political foes.” It is my belief that in looking at what constitutes the individual characteristics of the countersubversive tradition in a text like a sports film it is easier to see how it fits into similar theories offered by political scientists and others about the intersections of pop culture, sport, propaganda, and political tradition.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/1562246
Recommended Citation
Archer, Nicholas R., "Ideological Endzones: NFL Films and The Countersubversive Tradition in American Politics" (2010). Open Access Dissertations. 217.
https://doi.org/10.7275/1562246
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/open_access_dissertations/217