This photograph contains a playing field placed right in the middle of a marching band and a football team both at practice. On the marching band side you kids hard at work playing their instruments trying to get their field show together. Similarly on the athletic football side, you kids playing their field positions trying to get their play together. Some people may ask why such a image is set up in such a way.
The argument that this photo appears to be showing is a comparison of marching band versus football. The purpose of this picture appears to show people that marching band is a sport just as football is because they both meet on the same field. The field represents the levels of properties that make a sport a sport. These properties includes skillful, yet physical activity and competition.
My argument from this photograph addresses the fact that band is a sport although many people say it is not a sport. A lot of people make this statement because they often do not take the time to see what goes on behind the scene to make a show. All they see is the tooting of horns during half of a halftime. However marching band takes just as much time, strength, and competitiveness as sports like football. The fact that both pictures are placed the same way against the field portrays the idea that both activities are equal to one another in terms of physical activity and competitiveness.
At first glance the picture may not directly create any emotions but as time passes by the picture begins to make a person wonder. Its makes them wonder what does football have to do with marching band. Moreover for some particularly athletes or fans of athletes the picture may create a sense of anger because something as “geeky” as band is being placed on the same level as a sport such as football. In summary the picture portrays somewhat mixed feelings.
I understand your argument clearly. Marching does take much strength and endurance, but I would not necessarily classify marching as a sport. How do you define a sport? I think finding one definition of a "sport" is extremely difficult if at all possible.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal opinion, I do not classify marching band a sport. I tend to believe it is more of an activity. With that said, I also classify things like dance, color guard, and karate as activities.
Each takes athletic ability, competition, team work, and skill. I know personally that band is not an easy task, but I definetly argue what your definition of a sport is.
I would have to disagree with Brittany. Marching has the same aspects that football does just maybe not on as high of a scale. Their are multiple teams all performing together to achieve a common goal and as lame as this may sound it is quite tiring. There is no direct contact between the two teams but if that is the problem then how can we classify figure skating, bobsled, luge, or most other events in the Olympics as a sport.
ReplyDeleteI can understand where most people who claim marching as a non-sport activity but if you were to break it down you would see the attributes it shares with some of the worlds most popular sports.