ON CRIOLLOS AND CAPOEIRAS: NOTES ON SOCCER AND NATIONAL IDENTITY IN ARGENTINA AND IN BRAZIL
Summary
Soccer has continued to evolve in the twentieth century as it has become a universal language that has led to the transformation of specificities resulting to more value of the player and various idiosyncrasies such as traditions. National soccer styles in Argentina and Brazil is considered to be everything that unites the people and nothing that separates them (Guedes, 2014). An example of Coelho Neto argued that the unity of the South Americans could be sustained by the historical terrain. Soccer is also referred to as a locus of the state in modernity as it is a signifier as the merely thing it do not signify is the nonexistence of significance. This means that soccer gives an inversely endless ground that can be used to elaborate distinct and contrasting evaluations.
Brazil and Argentina are privileged alterity due to their similar structure opposition that leads to direct confrontation such as a unique position engaged by Argentina in Brazil in 2002 World Cup showing a difficult process of homogenizing the Brazilians. During the same event, South Korea, and Japan were also portrayed as rivals. The elimination of the soccer giants such as Argentina in the 2002 World Cup was also considered to be priceless as no price tag could equate to the happening of the match (Guedes, 2014). The creation of soccer is deemed to be complex in its identification. Argentina as well as Brazil has the same symbolic bases in soccer shares.
Football popularization in Argentina and Brazil began in the nineteenth century when mass media was not fully developed. In Brazil soccer training the body is not the force but it becomes a talent when creativity takes place. In Argentina involves two strategies of an individual brilliance and a gift which contradicts the discipline of school due to the will power and the value of courage as they are portrayed as artistic, sensitive and noble improvisers (Guedes, 2014). Brazil is defined by only two types of sport which is soccer and anything else that is winning. Sports can be easily integrated in the nation if it is successful in the global scene that can be quickly transformed into the country national pride. Sports can also be used to create opportunities in the international arena to focus on conversation topics that affect the social circles and yield positive results.
Argument
The main argument of the article is why soccer is seen to unite the people but instead it separates the people. The argument is based on the earlier 20th century from Coelho Neto. Soccer has continued to leave behind a historical terrain in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile as it has exhausted the colonies to collapse (Guedes, 2014). This is largely founded on the role of soccer as a signifier. The argument goes further into precisely to what similarities must be annulled in order to creation of specific qualities that each soccer country can nature. The author argues that it is important to begin a recuperating process in these narratives in the modern times to discuss sports in details.
Main Point
The main point that Guedes is laying out is that soccer is not only a sport but it can also be used a subject that can unity people especially due to its large number of following it has especially in the modern days. It is a vehicle that can be used to transform many things even on the social media platforms (Guedes, 2014). The mass media used by soccer has been has tremendously transformed innumerous events giving a more meaningful meaning to the soccer in the evolving world. Modernity is extensive and complex as so is soccer. There is a monopolistic capitalism that the author sees a new configuration in the nations and nationalities of a phenomenon that is old as humanity itself.
Evaluation
Geudes debate of modernity in regards to soccer is a diversification that has presumably faded in the national borders due to the overlap of transnational mechanisms. However despite the fact that the states have not been eliminated through the borders they have become more porous. The argument is valued because soccer from the point of view is the most popular game that dominates everyone and in return everyone attributes the same value to it even on unequal degree (Guedes, 2014).
Style of Writing, Strengths and Weakness
The author is particularly clear in his argument and evidence of the soccer impact to the people in Argentine, Brazil and the whole world. Geudes have addressed soccer as a talent and a school subject that has continued to evolve with time (Guedes, 2014). The principles that soccer applied has made it become the most competitive game that greatly contributes to the economics. The overall strength of the article has been able to show the importance of soccer and the role it plays in the modern society. The article has also been able to show a clear revolution of football and why Brazil and Argentina are considered to be the giants of soccer and why it is taught in schools. However the article has failed to prove why Argentina soccer training is an opposition to the discipline schools (Guedes, 2014).
Conclusion
The author is effective on the main argument as he has obtained supporting facts from other others. Some authors have process of soccer provoked new uprising nationalism as well as growth of fundamentalism that has reconnected the world nations penetrating the transnational markets and the political borders. Geudes gives a case scenario of 2002 World Cup that proves the impact of soccer in our daily lives and how important it has become. The use of Anthropological theory has demonstrated clearly the constructions of soccer that are contrasting (Guedes, 2014).
Reference
Guedes, S. L. (2014). On criollos and capoeiras: notes on soccer and national identity in Argentina and in Brazil. Routledge
