Anna Moore

ENGL 111 Composition 1

Dr. Burke
Sept 10
ANALYSIS: LOW-STAKES WRITING ASSIGNMENT Robert Lipsyte, Jock Culture
Jock Culture or Mock Culture?
It seems to me that Lipsytes analysis on jock culture and sports is very
accurate and he does a good job of using examples to back his claim. He starts the
article out at the beginning by explaining the difference between a jock and a puke, and
that really put into perspective the rest of the piece. When he writes, Boysand more
and more girlswho accept jock culture values often go tonto flourish in a competitive
sports environment that requires submission to authority, winning by any means
necessary, and group cohesion. (350) This is the better part of Jock culture, the part
with less of the negative connotations that are commonly accepted.
I wish he would of gone deeper into his claim on sports and how they are the
very best thing to do, the best way to please your body in public. I love playing sports
(volleyball) and I really connected with that, but I felt that I was left hanging, wanting him
to talk more about it. He does touch on it later about being on a winning team, but it is
different that discussing sports them.
I also wish that he talked about the sports psychology aspect of the game and
the effect that the games have on athletes. He talks about their place in our culture and
popularity, but I would have been more interested if he took the route of talking about
the athletes and the effect that jock culture has on them more. I was very pleased when
he talked about our societies emphasis on sports gives athletes the easy way out and
this is why they have issues with violence and all. I am just so interested in that, it is one
of my favorite things to think about. They are role models for so many people, and when
he talks about the effects they have on society filled that void a little bit for me
personally.
I think that he does a good job on touching on the stereotypes, the expectations,
and the role of athletes or jocks in society. He is very creditable on this topic, and that is
established early on which made me enjoy the article because it wasnt done by some
random person with no experience on the topic. Some athletes are jokes, and make
horrible decisions that are known by all because they are famous; the dog fighting
infamous Michael Vick (who I have met before) is one example he uses. It is nice to see
both sides of the Jock culture ideal and mentality.