Another little interesting connection on this theme.... -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 10:42:42 02/13/08 Wed
Author: Kiernan
Subject: Another little interesting connection on this theme....
In reply to: JPJ II 's message, "What Cicero thinks of Puerto Rico..." on 20:44:13 02/10/08 Sun

This discussion of sports as an outlet for violence (to prevent it within society), as well as James' mention of Cicero, made me think of the Gladiatorial games of the Romans. Especially considering the cosmopolitan, and political peace, of their empire, the Romans came up with quite a brilliant way of dealing with violence in their society. They scapgoated foreigners/ slave (= gladiators) in mock battles. Such a practice is often derided as being amused by sports, but perhaps a deeper social need lay beneath it.

Another interesting point......gladiators were often the "heroes" within Roman society, a sort of miniature "sacralization," as Girard would say, of the derided spectators.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

But the ritual is lacking -- Betsy Peters, 14:38:24 02/16/08 Sat