Help needed for culture study project, any input appreciated...

[AndrewSS]

Hi, thanks for checking this out, I am doing a project for my English class (freshman in college) its an "ethnography." Essentially its a culture study, for the assignment I have the choice to pick any American sub-culture to study. I decided to pick the world of strength training.

To get a little more specific with the title, strength training, I will be looking at body builders, olympic lifters, and power lifters. I am using those three groups as a way to get specific within in the more broad topic of "strenght training."

Anyway, where I need your help is... if any of you guys/girls have any experience with those 3 groups within "strength training" help me by answering the following questions:

-First introduce yourself very briefly (name, how long "in" this sub-culture, anything relevant you think should be included...)

1. What rewards/benefits do you see from being associated/participating with those groups.

2. How does being connected with this sub-culture define you.

3. Do you think this sub-culture is accepted or rejected in the eyes of culture as a whole?

4. How and why are you a part of this sub-culture?

5. What sacrifices have you had to make as a result of participating in this sub-culture?

6. What relationships have you developed from this sub-culture?

7. How do you think this sub-culture fits (and maybe, is viewed) within larger society?

8. Is this sub-culture actively maintaining its identity or is it being absorbed into the larger culture?

9. How do you fit in this sub-culture?

10. How do the memebers of this sub-culture interact with each other?




Ok well thanks a lot for checking this out, again, any input you can give me helps me a lot!

-Thanks,
Andrew Scott

 

[BigDyl]

I'm giving you an F-

 

[AndrewSS]

i guess an emo ninja would do that...

 

[BigDyl]

True Story, then he would kill you, and then cry about it.

 

[Arnold]

I do not see strength training as far as olympic lifting as a "sub-culture", it is in the olympics, has been for a long time, the general public watches it , etc.

Bodybuilding is a sub-culture in the sense that it will never be accepted and/or watched by anyone but bodybuilders, and it will never be viewed as a real sport.

 

[maniclion]

Bodybuilding is a sub-culture in the sense that it will never be accepted and/or watched by anyone but bodybuilders, and it will never be viewed as a real sport.

Cause it's more of an art but instead of sculpting marble or clay you're sculpting your own body.

 

[KelJu]

I do not see strength training as far as olympic lifting as a "sub-culture", it is in the olympics, has been for a long time, the general public watches it , etc.

Bodybuilding is a sub-culture in the sense that it will never be accepted and/or watched by anyone but bodybuilders, and it will never be viewed as a real sport.

I don't know Rob, I enjoyed bodybuilding as something to read about or watch on TV years before I started it. I power lifted from the age of 13 to
18. Then, I started bodybuilding about a year ago, but I was always interested.

 

[AndrewSS]

so does anyone have any input regarding the 10 questions I listed, any help would really help me out!

thanks

 

[The Monkey Man]

Hi, thanks for checking this out, I am doing a project for my English class (freshman in college) its an "ethnography." Essentially its a culture study, for the assignment I have the choice to pick any American sub-culture to study. I decided to pick the world of strength training.

To get a little more specific with the title, strength training, I will be looking at body builders, olympic lifters, and power lifters. I am using those three groups as a way to get specific within in the more broad topic of "strenght training."

Anyway, where I need your help is... if any of you guys/girls have any experience with those 3 groups within "strength training" help me by answering the following questions:

-First introduce yourself very briefly (name, how long "in" this sub-culture, anything relevant you think should be included...)

1. What rewards/benefits do you see from being associated/participating with those groups.
Member of sort of an elite group (in the US)

2. How does being connected with this sub-culture define you.
I don't understand this fully, but... It has raised my knowledge
of strength training somewhat, and its cool to be able to do things the
masses cannot



3. Do you think this sub-culture is accepted or rejected in the eyes of culture as a whole?
Olympic weightlifting, is not even known to 90%
of the public I think, so its accepted as a secret in the US

4. How and why are you a part of this sub-culture?
I was looking for something more challenging, less vain, and hoped to become competitive

5. What sacrifices have you had to make as a result of participating in this sub-culture?
I have become almost a cripple, endured one semi-serious
surgery, and almost constant pain

6. What relationships have you developed from this sub-culture?
some new friends and alot of strange questions from other gym members

7. How do you think this sub-culture fits (and maybe, is viewed) within larger society?
I think as Rob said... It is more accepted than bodybuilding worldwide
but almost unknown and somewhat unacceptd in the US
(probably because it is difficult)

8. Is this sub-culture actively maintaining its identity or is it being absorbed into the larger culture?
It is maintaining, because it is so unnoticed



9. How do you fit in this sub-culture?
I am a newer inductee to the world of Olympic Weightlifting
but I am very drawn to it


10. How do the memebers of this sub-culture interact with each other?
They are very friendly and always seem to want to help each other
I have not seen any cuthroat competition, only good sportsmanship
(But, again I am new)




Ok well thanks a lot for checking this out, again, any input you can give me helps me a lot!
GHEY

-Thanks,
Andrew Scott

 

[BigDyl]

Gheyest answers ever!

 

[The Monkey Man]

Gheyest answers ever!

vague generic questions

 

[AndrewSS]

^ well I am just doing a school assignment, so bear with me... its not a star documentary... thanks for the answers