Extreme Sports

Paper Summary:

This paper gives an etymological definition of extreme sports, expressing its French and Latin roots. Through example, the author puts extreme sports into context with regard to society and acceptance.

From the Paper:

"Extreme sports are outside of the realm of mainstream experience and as a result, they lead to the creation of subcultures. Subculture is therefore one of the hallmarks of extreme sports, exemplifying the essence of the root meaning for "extreme." That which is extreme is outside of the ordinary. Therefore, an extreme sport, even if dangerous, cannot be part of mainstream culture. For example, most people in the United States do not play football, but football is certainly not considered to be an extreme sport. Football is for sure a dangerous sport, but it is also a mainstream sport, broadcasted live on national television networks, a sport that has become commonplace even to those who do not play. Skateboarding, on the other hand, is technically less dangerous than football but still carries with it a stigma of fringe culture and subculture. People who skateboard are labeled "extreme" because they are outside of ordinary mainstream culture. Therefore, extreme sports necessarily create subcultures around them that define them as being external to mainstream reality."

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