The enthusiasm for the game of football extends far beyond the crowded bleachers of modern stadiums in metropolitan areas around the globe and handcrafted goal posts on agrarian fields in the British Lake District. The so called “beautiful game” has served as a template for countless movies, books, plays and other cultural goods.
One of the most prominent writings on football and football fandom is Nick Hornby’s "Fever Pitch". Besides the topic of football, it is the author’s own story about growing up as a British child of the 1960s, an era which was shaped by issues of class and questions about the existence of a British identity. As a semi-autobiographic coming-of-age narrative about love, friendship, labour and Nick Hornby’s obsession for football, the luck and success of Arsenal, the author’s favourite team, reflects the ups and downs of his own life.
According to the author, Fever Pitch is not just about a man’s obsession for football: “The book is also, in part, an exploration of some of the meanings that football seems to contain for many of us”.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- New Lad culture
- Gender identity – Hegemonial concepts of masculinity
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper analyzes the depiction of masculinity in Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch, using it as a representative example of the New Lad genre of the 1990s. It compares this depiction to a traditional, hegemonic understanding of masculinity and examines Nick Hornby's own understanding of masculinity as presented in the book.
- New Lad culture and its characteristics
- Hegemonic masculinity and its implications
- Masculinity as depicted in Fever Pitch
- The role of football as a metaphor for life experiences
- The protagonist's coming-of-age journey
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction provides background information on the novel Fever Pitch and its significance within the New Lad genre. It introduces the key concepts of masculinity and football fandom as explored in the book. The following chapter examines the concept of New Lad culture, its origins, and its portrayal in contemporary literature. It analyzes the image of the "New Lad" as a counter-cultural figure compared to the traditional, idealized image of masculinity. The chapter then delves into the concept of hegemonic masculinity, exploring its historical development and its impact on societal understanding of gender roles.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The core concepts of the paper include New Lad culture, masculinity, hegemonic masculinity, gender identity, football fandom, and coming-of-age narratives. These keywords illustrate the key themes and research focuses of the analysis, providing a comprehensive understanding of the central concepts explored in the text.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central theme of Nick Hornby's "Fever Pitch"?
The central theme of "Fever Pitch" is the intense obsession with football and how the successes and failures of the Arsenal football team mirror the protagonist's own life experiences and personal growth.
How does the book define "New Lad" culture?
"New Lad" culture is portrayed as a 1990s counter-cultural movement that challenged traditional, hegemonic concepts of masculinity, often centered around interests like football, drinking, and a specific type of male bonding.
What role does football play as a metaphor in the narrative?
Football serves as a metaphor for life's ups and downs, providing a structured way for the protagonist to process emotions, love, friendship, and his transition into adulthood.
Is "Fever Pitch" an autobiography?
The book is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age narrative, blending Nick Hornby's personal history of growing up in the 1960s with his identity as a devoted Arsenal fan.
How is masculinity explored in the text?
The text analyzes the depiction of masculinity by comparing the protagonist's behavior and the "New Lad" genre against traditional hegemonic understanding of what it means to be a man.
What historical context shaped the book's setting?
The story is shaped by the British identity and class issues of the 1960s, reflecting an era of significant social change in the United Kingdom.
- Quote paper
- Hendrik Wonsak (Author), 2016, Figures of masculinity in New Lad fiction. Nick Hornby’s "Fever Pitch", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/353953
