A Ritual Study in the Context of Bowling - Research Paper Example

Jolayemi Labiran ...of practice and games: A ritual study in the context of Bowling. SPORTS Sports is a recreational cross-cultural concept governedby a set of rules and customs often in the pursuit of competition. It refers to the physical and/or mental capabilities that determine the victory or loss of an individual or team. Countries worldwide have discovered various sports for entertainment. For the United States of America for instance, baseball and basketball are the primary sports favoured by the general public. Europe on the other hand advocates football and even considers it as a national sport. While each country maintains a major sport activity, other kind of sports not given much attention still exist and is played by a fraction of its population. One of which is bowling. Interestingly, bowling existed as far as the stone age but evidence of its existence was only discovered by a British Anthropologist named Sir Flinders Petrie in Egypt in 1930s. Since then, bowling had evolved into different variations and is the subject of quite a number of studies in the field of anthropology. BOWLING A study of rituals can be surmised through the study of the bowling sport. Looking at it, the players and the sport itself contains very dynamic yet subtle forms of ritual before, during, and after the game. Very subtle that it can hardly be considered ritual at all. Bowling as Ritual The bowling game itself is a form of ritual with sequential strokes being carried one after the other. A player cannot just grab a ball and throw it at any direction he chooses. Before a player is able to finish one frame, he must go through a process of choosing a ball, placing his fingers in the ball holes in a way that his hand will not get strained when he throws it, positioning himself in a strategic spot where his aim of bowling a strike (or at least making a good bowl) is achievable, concentrating on the kind of throw he will use, swinging his arms in such a way that it produces a powerful stroke for the ball (an application of how he had trained to forcefully roll a ball). This becomes the first part of the bowling ritual. But the ritual process does not stop there for the player waits for the ball to hit the targeted pins before he lets out a certain kind of reaction, a gesture of success or failure. That becomes another form of ritual not part of the game but is an essential component as the competition progresses. This cycle or ritual is perpetuated until the game ends. Bowling and Religion Before a bowling league begins, series of rituals are already taking place. As observed, rituals would start as early as picking of lane assignments for individuals or teams. Some teams prefer odd numbered lanes while others favour even numbered ones. Consciously, some players or teams prefer numbers with strokes going up such as eight, or the more common lucky number 9. This goes to shows that no matter how excellently prepared and practiced these players or teams are, a part of them anchors their hope on winning the game with good fortune or providence. Bowling, Kinship, and Cultural Values Bowling rituals can also be correlated of a society’s kinship structure. Once in a team, an individual holds a certain level of belongingness and is expected to adhere to the team’s principles, customs, and traditions. For instance, a team’s ritual may be to say a little prayer before the start of every game. That simple prayer is reflective of the cultural and religious value that binds each member of the team. This may not be regarded as a ritual for any of the team as it becomes a natural hegemonic activity that no longer needs further questioning or even thinking. The central goal of the simple gesture is to express faith in a divine being who is believed as the only one able to grant requests and make a favourable outcome as the game progresses. The second goal is to convey a sense of togetherness and a source of basic social action within the team. This ritual practice is not directly part of the game, but it is being incorporated into the team’s activities. Another form of ritual evident in bowling is the chants or cheers that a specific team have. Before the game begins, they usually “huddle” for a moment. During the huddle, a certain kind of conditioning takes place. For one, last minute reminders and instructions are communicated to individuals or to every team member by their respective coaches. In this ritual, each playing individual takes coaching from someone who they look up to as superior over them. In relation to kinship, this course of action underscores the order of relationship between the head of the family and the members. The head, being the one to lead the group in every circumstance, the team captain being the next in command and most likely the one best relied upon in the absence of the leader, and the members being the one expected to follow the orders from those of their superior, to learn as much as they can during training, and to function as best that they can as part of a family. Another subtle ritual is the selection process of players who will join the team. Among the numerous applicants, coaches go through a rigorous procedure of picking the right and best players that would compose the line-up. Embedded in the consciousness of the coaches (though they are not necessarily aware of it) are values that they deem most important and valuable for the success of the group. Hence, the player who never misses to bowl a strike but does not have the discipline is not necessarily chosen to be with the group. On the other hand, a bowler who needs more improvement but is so much driven and possesses an attitude of courage and gameness may be qualified for a position in the team. The process of selection is a kind of ritual that coaches communicate through the subtle attitudes expressed and values underscored in the activity. These cultural values in turn become a guide for behaviour for those aspiring to become an excellent individual bowler or as part of a team. The diligent attitude of a bowling aspirant Bowling and Verbal and non-verbal language Language also plays a significant role in the expression of ritual in this sport. As observed, different teams may have different terminologies used to refer to a similar situation, depending on their own understanding and humour of the subject matter at hand. For instance, when a player bowls a strike, different positive reactions will surface from the team members. Same happens when the player is not able to make a good bowl. However, when the latter happens, different words of encouragement are being expressed between the players. More common are “it’s okay”, “there’s always a next frame”, and the likes. Non-verbal language such as tapping the back is demonstrative as well of the confidence that each member gives to the playing individual. Here, encouragement is not part of the game rules but it is being embedded and had become a naturalized gesture among the group members. These forms of encouragement in this so-called ritual are symbolic representations of socialization and the promotion of social solidarity among team members. The ritual then follows a particular pattern: player bowls and waits for outcome, the outcome produces a reaction (either positive or negative), player is assumed to have gained confidence through verbal and non-verbal encouragement; player bowls again and produces another set of reaction/s. This pattern again continues until such time that the game ends. Interpretation of rituals in the context of sports is a rare study but it can provide very good source insights about the subject matter. It is even evident of the values embedded in the game itself as well as the actors who are making possible the different expression of rituals. Apart from rituals, bowling just like any other sports can be a good source of anthropological interpretation of the values considered with utmost importance in a specific culture. The study of sports in lieu of anthropology therefore is an excellent way to discover and reinforce shared values and concepts inherent with our norms and traditions as well as the universal rules that govern sports in general. Read More