Sport and culture: elitism or pluralism?
Students of cultural activities have noted the continuing existence of two kinds of culture, which have become known as high and popular culture. Advocates of high culture have failed to consider the significance of sport in society, relegating it to a subsidiary position as one of a mass of human activities collectively gathered under the rubric of mass or popular culture. This has important implications for the cultural status of sport in society. This paper explores some of the charges made against sport as part of popular culture by advocates of high culture and suggests that these charges rest on value premises that are open to challenge. Sporting activities grow out of and reflect the values of our society. An analysis of sport and culture should not begin with judgments about the quality of items of culture but rather should see each as satisfying the needs of some people even though they dissatisfy others.