 |
| Photo Credit: Curved View |
Less than a century ago, this is what people had to deal with. Back then, of course, sports weren't as prevalent in society as they are today, with fewer teams for each sport and some of the present day sports not even invented yet or not yet reaching their present day format. But in order for those Americans to know what was happening with their favorite team or player back in the 1920's and 1930's, they needed to tune into a radio or get information about the game telegraphed to them or someone they knew.
The first televised sporting event was a college basketball game between Columbia and Princeton in 1939. NFL games were first shown on television beginning in 1939 and NHL games shortly after in 1940. People now had the television to touch bases on how their favorite team was doing and they were able to see what was happening during a game from the comfort of their own homes.
 |
| Photo Credit: Gunaxin Gadgets |
Therefore, my thesis would be similar to this: Advances in technologies throughout the 20th century, especially changing the way people watch television, drastically impacted the way people watched sports from having to watch games in black and white on a small television set to being able to watch live sporting events from devices that fit in your pockets, demonstrating a significant shift in the way that Americans watch sports.
Here are some of my preliminary sources:
"History of Sports Broadcasting." Be on Air Network, Miami, Ohio, Illinois and Colorado Media
Schools, beonair.com/history-of-sports-broadcasting/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
"How Technology Has Changed the Way We Watch Sports." NGCIT, 19 Nov. 2015, ncgit.com/
how-technology-has-changed-the-way-we-watch-sports/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
Ozanian, Mike. "Virtual Reality Will Be a Paradigm Shift for Sports Viewing." Forbes, Forbes
Media, 25 Nov. 2015, Virtual Reality Will Be A Paradigm Shift For Sports Viewing.
Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
Tubbs, William. "How Technology Has Changed the Way We Watch Sports." Innovation
Enterprise, channels.theinnovationenterprise.com/articles/how-technology-has-
changed-the-way-we-watch-sport. Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
Weintraub, Robert. "The Future of Sports Television." Slate, Slate Group, 31 Oct. 2008,
www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2008/10/the_future_of_sports_television.html.
Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
Schools, beonair.com/history-of-sports-broadcasting/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
"How Technology Has Changed the Way We Watch Sports." NGCIT, 19 Nov. 2015, ncgit.com/
how-technology-has-changed-the-way-we-watch-sports/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
Ozanian, Mike. "Virtual Reality Will Be a Paradigm Shift for Sports Viewing." Forbes, Forbes
Media, 25 Nov. 2015, Virtual Reality Will Be A Paradigm Shift For Sports Viewing.
Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
Tubbs, William. "How Technology Has Changed the Way We Watch Sports." Innovation
Enterprise, channels.theinnovationenterprise.com/articles/how-technology-has-
changed-the-way-we-watch-sport. Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
Weintraub, Robert. "The Future of Sports Television." Slate, Slate Group, 31 Oct. 2008,
www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2008/10/the_future_of_sports_television.html.
Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
I think this is a great topic to choose. The only thing I would caution you about is in the background you start talking about how before TV people didn't have easy access to sports, but in your thesis you start your timeline around black and white TV. I also liked how you already have an idea of what caused this shift: ESPN. Good luck writing!
ReplyDeleteJacob, you have a great start on your essay. It's obvious that you've done some research and have a good idea about the structure of your essay. I think your topic is interesting and has a great scope within the realm of television and sports. Your introduction is also compelling, as I had never realized how new of an advancement watching sports on TV was. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI think your topic is very interesting! In your essay be sure to discuss why this change is important (other than the fact that it is more convenient). Something you could bring up is how the transition to mobile devices reflects our society's "do everything on the go" mentality.
ReplyDeleteThe way we watched sports has shifted from going to your local ballgame to pulling it up on the ol' YT. Great topic, but you should be careful that your shift in watching sports doesn't become a shift in increasing technology. Be sure to address what it means to watch a sport, and the attitude towards watching it. How has involvement and investment in watching sports changed? Is watching it at home the same as being there in person? I'm sure with all this in mind you'll fill 7-10 pages no problem!
ReplyDeleteI like how your topic incorporates both technological changes and how these changes have impacted the shift in how people keep in touch with athletic events. The topic overall definitely will provide enough information for your paper and presentation; however, my only concern is whether your topic involves so many intricate details. For example, using both technology and sports as your duel paradigm shift will involve plenty of research and defending in your essay. Having to also discuss societal and cultural changes involved with this paradigm shift and the different techniques that could further enhance the change in sports watching may be a lot to chew in one, 10 page paper.
ReplyDeleteJacob, I think your classmates above gave you a lot of helpful advice about your topic. I'd encourage you to sift through those comments and heed them.
ReplyDeleteA few more thoughts:
I think you can enhance your thesis. It's a bit circular now. You're stating that the shift is "how we watch sports" (which makes sense), but then you essentially end the thesis by suggesting that this shift is significant because it changes "how we watch sports."
That's circular. I'd encourage you to tease out more significance than the fact that our viewership of sports is different than it once was.
I.e., has it launched sports into a behemoth of "big business"? Has it created/encouraged a sports-obsessed culture? Has it risen sports to a level of reverence? What has it really done to influence/shape our culture, how we view sports, how we view athletes?
Get to WHY the changed form/frequency of sports viewership matters, rather than suggesting that the significance is in the change itself. If you do this, you'll hit a home run.
(Home run. Ha! See what I did there?) ;)
Hope that helps!