Soccer and Politics

Danny SacoEnglish 1102 TTH 2-3:15pm

Refle

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In

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The usage of graphics is useful in

the examining of information instead

of a purely written genre because

research states that we process

visuals 60,000 times faster than

text. Graphics are used everyday

through the usage of

advertisements, political purposes,

such as cartoons, educational

purposes, such as textbooks, and

business graphics like charts and

tables. Reading becomes more

interesting and appealing when

graphics are used along with the

text because it also aids readers

with concepts and creates a clearer

understanding to learning.

Power is worth being examined and having attention garnered because people with too much power can become corrupt and use it in a negative way to gain what they seek. An Ancient Greek general named Pittacus stated, “The measure of a man is what he does with power.” That statement, to me, gives the idea that there are men who use power for positive reasons and men who use power for negative reasons. For example, a man who constructed positive power was Martin Luther King, Jr. because he led a civil rights movement that soon ended segregation and pursued equality for Americans. Adolf Hitler was a man who used power for a horrific gain with the destruction and commencing of ethnic cleansing so that the Aryan Germans may be superior to every other race.

The topic and aspect of power that I selected to focus on is Soccer and Politics. I discovered that politics is found in almost every possible situation, and its even seen, even corrupting, the beautiful game of soccer. Politics is used more during this time period than any other due to an offensive nature that most people acquired now, so the use of politically correctness is widely being spread.

I want my audience to accept and interpret the material I presented in my collection as a combination of things I find interesting, such as politics, and things I love, such as soccer and FC Barcelona, and the connection that soccer and politics has.

The graphics that were most personal to me were the pictures of the Barcelona squad huddled together before a match, the image of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, the 4 years that Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or, and the image of Scarface holding money. The soccer images were most personal to me because soccer takes up a huge part of my life and I’ve always had a passion for the game, along with FC Barcelona being my favorite club. The image of Lionel Messi winning the Ballon d’Or, 4 years in a row appeals to me because he is my idol. The Scarface image was interesting because it showed that once you get money, then you get the power because money and power are two commonly related themes.

The image of Harry Truman and Joseph Stalin lifting bombs onto a scale was the most helpful for me to learn about the topic because it showed me that economic strength could determine the global balance of power. It also showed that a dramatic change occurred from geo-politics to geo-economics after the end of the Cold War, that military power requires a thriving economy and provides security for a nation.

A paradigm analysis on the image of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini joining sides benefitted my understanding of the image itself because it was a modern example of a totalitarian regime and showed that the two countries of Italy and Germany becoming allies gave the two dictators more power with the combining of their armies. It also brought to light that the threat of force could be just as effective as force itself. The Hitler-Mussolini image let me gain insight that an effective threat generates fear in a target and pushes the targeted towards behavior that they would not normally engage in.

The processes behind completing this project has taught me that you can better understand an image if you see the reasoning behind it and how a picture can really be “worth a thousand words.” This process may benefit me in the future if I do anything associated with advertising or charts and tables because I can adjust and contemplate an image that can reach out to my audience, grab their attention, and possibly inject a hidden message to them.

1. The image title is How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

2. Foer, Franklin. How Soccer Explains the World. 2012 Oct 7. www.lastwordonsports.com/2012/10/07/review-how-soccer-explains-the-world/. Web. 2013 Feb 21.

3. The topic is Soccer4. The images sub-genre is a book cover photograph5. Informative mode6. This image was found online 7. I found this image by Google searching “books on soccer”8. I selected this image because it contained stories and many facts on

the game of soccer and how it can influence the world9. This image states about power that the game of soccer has a huge

influence on countries around the world10. I state so because on a global scale, soccer can bring countries

together and also tear them apart11. This image coincides with my collection because it shows a connection

between soccer and politics

1. The image title is Sepp Blatter Denies FIFA is Corrupt and Brands England Sore Losers in World Cup Row

2. Getty Images. Sepp Blatter Says FIFA is Not Corrupt. 2010 Dec 9. www.couriermail.com.au/news/sepp-blatter-denies-fifa-is-corrupt-and-brands-England-sore-losers-in-world-cup-row/story-e6freon6-1225968119957. Web. 2013 Feb 22

3. The topic is Sharp Retort in FIFA4. The image sub-genre is a photograph5. Argumentative mode6. This image was found online7. I found this image by Google searching “FIFA President Sepp

Blatter”8. I selected this image to show how much power Sepp Blatter has in

the world of soccer9. This image states about power that Sepp Blatter has a lot of control

with the governing body of FIFA10. I state so because bribe-taking and vote-rigging occurs all the time

throughout FIFA and the decision of who will host the World Cup11. This image fits with my collection because corruption occurs

anywhere when you have the money

1. The image title is Soccer vs. The State2. Kuhn, Gabriel. Soccer vs. The State: Tackling Football and Radical Politics.

2011 Feb. www.freedompress.org.uk/news/2011/04/12/soccer-vs-the-state-book-launch-2/. Web. 2013 Feb 23.

3. The topic is labeled as Where the Beautiful Game Meets the Beautiful Idea4. The image sub-genre is a book cover5. Entertaining mode6. I found this image online on an anarchist news and views website7. I found this image by Google searching “books on soccer and influence of

politics”8. I selected this image to reveal how professionalism and commercialization

dominate the global image of soccer as it is a multi-billion dollar industry9. This image states that with power, soccer reflects on the ideals of

nationalism, fostering competitiveness, and serving the right-wing powers10. I state that because no other sport really interferes with politics like soccer

does11. This image fits with my collection because politics is described in this book

and how it can control the sport of soccer in many ways

1. The image title is called Lionel Messi Wins 2012 Ballon d’Or2. Sharif, Arslan. Lionel Messi Wins Fourth Ballon d’Or in a Row. 2013 Jan

8www.pardaphash.com/news/lionel-messi-wins-2012-ballon-dor-his-fourth-in-row/702720.html#.UTJHdqV5nzl. Web. 2013 Feb 23.

3. The topic is Messi Wins a Record 4-Successive FIFA World Player of the Year Award After a Record-Breaking 91 Goals in a Calendar Year

4. The image sub-genre is a photograph5. Expressive/Entertaining mode6. I found this image online7. I found this image by Google searching “Lionel Messi Ballon d’Or”8. I selected this image because Lionel Messi is my idol and favorite

footballer9. This image states that power is shown with Messi being regarded as the

greatest footballer of all time since Diego Maradona and Pele10. I state that because statistics, the way Messi plays, and playing on FC

Barcelona prove that he is11. This image fits in perfectly with power in soccer and my collection of

images

1. The image title is called Soccer Politics2. Silva, Efraim. Soccer Politics. 2011 June 8.

www.silvanisoccer.wordpress.com. Web. 2013 Feb 21.3. The topic is Soccer and Politics4. The image sub-genre is a photograph5. Expressive mode6. I found this image online7. I found this image by Google searching “Soccer and Politics”8. I selected this image to show that politics is found anywhere9. This images states that power is within FIFA since it’s the governing

body of soccer around the world and politics plays a huge role in how they organize and enforce rules

10. I state that because some figureheads who help govern FIFA are indeed corrupt

11. This image fits in my collection because its basically the whole theme of my project

1. The image title is called Adventures in Capitalism2. Yeh, Chris. Money and Power. 2012 June 2.

www.chrisyeh.blogspot.com/2012/06/money-and-power.html. Web. 2013 Feb 23.

3. The topic is stemmed off Thoughts of Business, Entrepreneurship and Life from a Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and Writer

4. The image sub-genre is graphic5. Expressive mode6. I found this image online on a blog7. I found this image by Google searching “Money and Power”8. I selected this image to see that whenever you have money and power

together, you gain a great deal of respect from your peers9. This image states that power is gained by any means necessary10. I state that because power is relative to the people around you11. This image fits in with my collection of images because it proves that

money doesn’t make everybody happy, but power can be used in many ways to create a sense of happiness

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Paradigms

Piece Barcelona first team huddling up before a game Originally published April 21, 2012 at 3:14pm at the Camp Nou in

Barcelona, Spain Found on www.guardian.co.uk.com Listening to inspiring words from the captain Carles PuyolAgent Getty Images They capture events that shape the world Can be contacted by going to www.gettyimages.comReceiver Primary audience is soccer fans/Barcelona fans I am part of the intended audience Being a Barcelona fan myself and knowing that the team looks up to

Puyol as the leaderAgenda Show confidence and teamwork before their rival game at home against

Real Madrid

Demands Urges that the Barcelona club is always counted upon to do the best they

can to retain their title of best club in the world If demands are met, Barcelona will keep winning trophies every season and

scoring goals If demands are not met, rival clubs such as Real Madrid will take over the

league and possibly other trophies such as the Champions League or Copa del Rey

Inquiries What certain game plans are they going over? My intuition says that they have a strong game plan going up against one of

the stronger teams in the league Not really manipulating because I always have faith in Barcelona doing well Their record and depth of excellent players shows that they have the

capability to always get resultsGains More insight into the picture Piece showed that teamwork can always overcome obstaclesMotivators Show the determination and leadership the players have in each other Me being a big FC Barcelona fan and realizing the leadership on the squad

Piece

• A CEO or boss is holding a meeting with other staff or board members

• Found on www.peoi.org

• Dated in 2011

• Show power at a board meeting

Agent

• Political cartoonist Leo Cullum

• Contributed to The New Yorker publishing over 800 cartoons

• Cannot be contacted because he died October 30, 2010 of cancer

Receiver

• Newspaper readers

• I am not part of the intended audience

• I see a leader of the table looking like he’s giving an order and his associates are listening

Agenda

• The one guy talking makes all the rules of the company

• Every other person is taking notes or tentatively listening to what he has to say

Demands• Urges the power of one person that can influence and affect everyone

else involved• If demands are met, people keep jobs and maybe earn higher wages• If demands are not met, people lose jobs and future of company could be

destroyedInquiries• Why the 2 people listening have confused or surprised facial expressions• They do not like what the boss is saying• Boss is trying to manipulate the company since he stated that he makes

the rulesGains• Not every person should have a seat of power if he tries to control too

muchMotivators• A type of coercive power is shown in the cartoon

Piece• Political cartoon of Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin holding

bombs on a scale• Originally published in Project Syndicate• Found on www.aljazeera.com• Dated June 7, 2011• Main point is to show how the economic strength will determine the

global balance of power during this centuryAgent• Roberto Bobrow created the cartoon• He is a journalist and a cartoonist• Can be contacted on twitter @Bob_RowReceiver• Economists and political observers are the primary audience• Interested in how politics shapes the world so I am part of the

audience• Shows we aren’t the only holders of weapons

Agenda• Bias of the ability to project military power determining the international order• Justifies that economic power has become the key to success in world politicsDemands• Urges that many other countries have weapons• If demands are met, a third world war could possibly be prevented• If demands and agreements are not met, war occurring is a possibilityInquiries• Why/How a dramatic change from geo-politics to geo-economics happened

after the Cold War ended• Manipulating in the sense that the US’ military can be met with equal force

from another country• Both Truman and Stalin are holding a bomb, but it looks as if Stalin is

struggling a bitGains• Gained the fact that political observers argue whether economic or military

power is more fundamental• Military power requires a thriving economyMotivators• Created the piece to show that military power provides a great deal of

security for a nation

Piece Picture of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin joining sides Found on www.beyondintractability.org Dated September 2003 Modern example of totalitarian regime

Agent Máire A. Dugan created the piece Developed a theory that “delineated how a given interpersonal familial, or

organizational conflict is symptomatic of over-arching societal systems and structures”

Can be contacted through Columbia College where she developed the Masters in Conflict Resolution curriculum

Receiver No general audience Am not part of the intended audience Two communistic governments joined sides with each other maintaining a

system of threat and use of force to control a group of people

Agenda Stalin wanted Hitler to join his side Hitler wanted to do it more so on his own

Demands Two countries joining sides with the same totalitarian outlook or

mentality meant more power to do what they needed to do to accomplish their goals

If demands are met, it meant an easier taking over of a country by these two dictators

If demands were not met, it meant more force and threat used to garner what they please

Inquiries What made Stalin still want to join sides with Hitler when he tried to

invade Russia Intuition tells that the threat of force can be just as effective as force

itself Not swaying me with manipulation

Gains Totalitarianism is a very pervasive form of power Gave insight that an effective threat generates fear in a target and

pushes the target towards a behavior in which they would not normally engage in

Motivators The combined force of Stalin and Hitler’s military might encourage

other not to incur the wrath that they brought about

BIBLIOGRAPHYBauer, Talya. Bases of Power and the Power to Influence. 2011. www.peoi.org/Courses/Coursesen/orgbeh1/ch/ch13b.html. Web. 2013 Feb 20. Dugan, Máire. The Use of Threat. 2003 Sept. www.beyondintractability.org/bi-essay/threats. Web. 2013 Feb 20 Foer, Franklin. How Soccer Explains the World. 2012 Oct 7. www.lastwordonsports.com/2012/10/07/review-how-soccer-explains-the-world/. Web. 2013 Feb 21 Getty Images. Sepp Blatter Says FIFA is Not Corrupt. 2010 Dec 9. www.couriermail.com.au/news/sepp-blatter-denies-fifa-is-corrupt-and-brands-England-sore-losers-in-world-cup-row/story-e6freon6-1225968119957. Web. 2013 Feb 22

Kuhn, Gabriel. Soccer vs. The State: Tackling Football and Radical Politics. 2011 Feb. www.freedompress.org.uk/news/2011/04/12/soccer-vs-the-state-book-launch-2/. Web. 2013 Feb 23 Lago, Joseph. Barcelona v Real Madrid. 2012 April 21. www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2012/apr/21/barcelona-real-madrid-clasico-pictures#/?picture=389022569&index=0. Web. 2013 Feb 20 Nye, Joseph. Has Economic Power Replaced Military Might?. 2011 Jun 7. www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/06/20116713353508287.html. Web. 2013 Feb 20

Sharif, Arslan. Lionel Messi Wins Fourth Ballon d’Or in a Row. 2013 Jan 8. www.pardaphash.com/news/lionel-messi-wins-2012-ballon-dor-his-fourth-in-row/702720.html#.UTJHdqV5nzl. Web. 2013 Feb 23 Silva, Efraim. Soccer Politics. 2011 June 8. www.silvanisoccer.wordpress.com. Web. 2013 Feb 21 Yeh, Chris. Money and Power. 2012 June 2. www.chrisyeh.blogspot.com/2012/06/money-and-power.html. Web. 2013 Feb 23