Cristiano Ronaldo the opportunity to take a
course on the Real Madrid star.
The University of British Columbia Okanagan
is enrolling for a fourth-year sociology
module on Ronaldo due to his popularity and
influence on Portuguese and global society. Luis LM Aguiar, associate professor of
sociology in UBC Okanagan's Irving K.
Barber School of Arts and Sciences, said:
"Sociology is nothing if not the delving into
the processes of structuring identities and
experiences and exposing the social forces that push these processes. "In this case, I'm interested in how Ronaldo
has been used to construct several
discourses about who he is, what makes him
distinct as a footballer, what is his
relationship to Portugal, Madeira (his
hometown) and indeed Portuguese identity." During the semester-long course, students
will examine the stereotypical image of
Ronaldo and the Portuguese diaspora. "Ronaldo is said to embody features and
characteristics of speed, strength,
competetiveness, dogged work ethic,
discipline, and adaptability," added Aguiar on
news.ok.ubc.ca. "These features are also in a sense 'very
Portuguese' since the Portuguese outside the
homeland are nothing if not constructed as
hard workers, disciplined and determined.
Even as a global athlete transcending
geographical boundaries, Ronaldo cannot escape the stereotypical constructions of 'the
Portuguese'. "My two greatest passions are football and
critical sociology. A course on Cristiano
Ronaldo gives me the opportunity to combine
the two. "While I'm an admirer of Ronaldo, I'm
also a sociologist interested in understanding
the social and economic forces driving the
various constructions of this athlete and
what this says about our contemporary
values and culture." Ronaldo is not the first Madrid name to
become the subject of higher education.
Staffordshire University offered students the
chance to take a module in 'David Beckham
studies' prior to the former England captain's
move from Manchester United to Spain.
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