These Field Assignments and Special Projects come from the Point Menu of The Great Flying Chaos Learning Circus...an interactively rich and informationally diverse Syllabus.   The weight assigned to each Menu Item assumes a 200 pt. budget; i.e., students are 'given' 200 points with which they may 'buy' an assignment.  Of the 200 pts, 100 must be spent on tests.  Students can earn a grade without taking final examinations in this Syllabus...hence students are greatly motivated to 'spend' points.

NOTE: One may use this assignment without reference to the GFCLC; just adapt it to your own syllabus.

SELECT A SPORTS TEAM IN THE AREA: PROFESSIONAL, COLLEGE, OR HIGH 
SCHOOL.

GET APPROVAL AND INSTRUCTOR'S INITIALS IN THE SPACE BELOW BEFORE 
YOU SIGN UP FOR THE ASSIGNMENT.

 _________ APPROVED.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1-2 LIST AT LEAST FIVE OF THE STATUS-ROLES IN THE ORGANIZATION:
     A.
     B.
     C.
     D.
     E.

3-4.  IS YOUR TEAM A FORMAL ORGANIZATION OR A VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION.
	Explain:

5-6.  ARE THE STATUS-ROLES ON THE TEAM ALLOCATED ON THE BASIS OF MERIT
	OR ON THE BASIS OF STATUS: [RACE, GENDER, CLASS, ETHNICITY, 
	FRIENDSHIP, KINSHIP, OR OTHER SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP]

      EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.

7-8.  HOW MUCH DESIRE IS INVESTED IN BEING A MEMBER.  COMPARE IT TO 
	THE DESIRE INVESTED IN, SAY, BEING a STUDENT OR A WORKER IN 
	THE SAME COMMUNITY.

9-10.  IS THE SPORT CAPITAL INTENSIVE OR LABOR INTENSIVE.  EXPLAIN 
	YOUR ANSWER IN TERMS OF EQUIPMENT,  PLAYING SPACE, GROUNDS AND 
	BUILDINGS.

11-12.  FREUD WOULD SAY THAT SOME SPORTS [BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, 
	FOOTBALL] IS A RE-ENACTMENT OF THE 'PRIMAL' SCENE.  
	'READ OUT' THE BEHAVIOR OF THE WHOLE GAME: DOES IT INVOLVE 
	ONE SET OF PEOPLE USING FORCE TO PENETRATE THE SACRED SPACE 
	OF ANOTHER?  HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN:
  

	 WHAT IS THAT 'SACRED' SPACE; WHAT IS USED TO PENETRATE IT.

13-14.  MARX WOULD SAY THAT THE DESIRE INVESTED IN SPORTS IS USED, 
	IN CAPITALIST SOCIETIES, AS A WAY TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO BUY 
	THINGS AND THUS, DISPOSE OF 'SURPLUS' PRODUCTION AND TO 
	'REALIZE' PROFIT.  

	IS YOUR TEAM [OR ITS BEST PLAYERS] USED TO CREATE DEMAND AND 
	EXPAND MARKETS. 
        EXPLAIN WHY OR WHY NOT.

15-16.  AS MEAD SAID, PLAY AND GAMES ARE USED TO SOCIALIZE CHILDREN.
	WHAT ARE THE VALUES TO WHICH ARE PLAYERS ARE SOCIALIZED. 

	ANSWER IN TERMS OF:

	COOPERATION/COMPETITION,
        VIOLENCE/AGGRESSION, 
	MATERIALISM/SPIRITUALITY, 
	SENSITIVITY TO ROLE OTHERS/BRUTALITY,
        IMPERSONALITY/INTIMACY, 
	SEXUALITY/SENSUALITY AND SUCH.

17-18.  GOFFMAN WOULD SAY THAT GAMES CAN BE UNDERSTOOD AS 
	DRAMATURGICAL PERFORMANCES. 

	LIST FIVE ARTIFACTS FROM THE WORLD OF THEATRE WHICH 
	CAN BE FOUND IN THE GAMES YOUR TEAM PLAYS.
     A.
     B.
     C.
     D.
     E.

19-20.  PEOPLE WITH PRE-MODERN SENSIBILITY SAY THAT ONE MUST BE 
	INSPIRED; THAT THERE IS A MYSTERY AND A MIRACLE INVOLVED 
	IN GAMES.  PEOPLE WITH MODERN SENSIBILITY SAY THAT SCIENCE,
        ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES OF PHYSIOLOGY, 
	PSYCHOLOGY, AND SOCIOLOGY PRODUCE THE BEST TEAMS.  

	WHICH IS USED BY THE COACHES, OWNERS/ADMINISTRATORS OF YOUR 
	TEAM. 

	ANSWER IN TERMS OF THINGS SAID AND DONE...ANSWER ONE OR THE 
	OTHER OR A BIT OF BOTH.

21-22.  EXTRA CREDIT.  WHAT HAPPENS TO PLAYERS AS THEY GET OLDER; 
	ARE THEY DISCARDED; DO THEY CONTINUE TO PLAY THE GAME INTO 
	THEIR 40s, 50s, and 60s.  WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM IF THEY ARE
        HURT.  IS THEIR ECONOMIC SECURITY ENHANCED OR IGNORED 
	WHILE THEY ARE PLAYING.