Up There Derrida! Has Australian Footy Gone Goal-Postmodern?

In: Australian quarterly: AQ, Volume 78, Issue 4, p. 30-31

Abstract

Nothing in sport exemplifies the intrusion into everyday life of the maddeningly obscure condition known as postmodernism (pomo) as have the changes wrought in Australia's own football game. Postmodernism is a form of skepticism -- a subversive questioning & undermining of the notion that there is no overriding narrative that links the disparate parts of society together as an organic whole. It's impact on modern life is to suggest a fluidity where there once was solidity. The Aussie Rules, we tell ourselves, bring into question the tribalism we mythologized about the teams, which highlights the reality that the very idea of the tradition has a decidedly flimsy base. The governance by corporate entities, & the disappearance of the tribal base of local supporters have occurred in an environment of greater interchangeability on the game field where formal position is of little importance. The pace at which the modern game is played & the enormous physical demands on the players has meant the disappearance of certain archetypes that once adorned the game such as the gritty back pocket & the speedy wingmen. Teams are interchangeable, as are grounds, coaches & players. The once sacrosanct guernsey is now controlled by corporate interests that want their name on television screens & have no allegiance to the neighborhood patch. It is a very different ball game these days. Very postmodern. References. Adapted from the source document.