Masculinities: Football, Polo and the Tango in Argentina

by Eduardo P. Archetti

The complex relationship between nationalism and masculinity has been explored both historically and sociologically with one consistent male concepts of courage and virility are at the core of nationalism. In this ground-breaking book, the author questions this assumption and advances the debate through an empirical analysis of masculinity in the revealing contexts of same-sex (football and polo) and cross-sex (tango) relations. Because of its rich history, Argentina provides the ideal setting in which to study the intersection of masculine and national hybridization, creolization and a culture of performance have all informed both gender and national identities. Further, the author argues that, counter to claims made by globalization theorists, the importance of performance to Argentinian men and women has a long history and has powerfully shaped the national psyche. But this book takes the analysis far beyond national boundaries to address general arguments in anthropology which are not culture-specific, and the discussion poses important comparative questions and addresses central theoretical issues, from the interplay of morality and ritual, to a comparison between the popular and the aristocratic, to the importance of ‘othering' in national constructions - particularly those relating to sport. This book represents a major contribution, not only to anthropology, but to the study of gender, nationalism and culture in its broadest sense.

Genres: Feminism

234 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Tristan Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archetti's book is a really interesting discussion of the role that soccer, polo, and the tango play in Argentinian masculine culture. Relying on the notion of cultural "hybridity" (more commonly used in the humanities than in the social sciences), Archetti discusses the ways in which Argentinian national identity is a hybrid identity forged, in part, through sport, dance, and gender. The first half is a little overly theoretical, but the ways in which he illustrates how Argentinian culture has claimed cultural practices and objects imported from colonizers is incredibly insightful. Great read!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic anthropology, mediocre literature.