Contents
1 Introduction
2 Spotlight on Football Hooligans – A Theoretical Background
2.1 Defining the Terms “Hooligan” and “Hooliganism”
2.2 The History of Football Hooliganism in England
2.3 The Subculture of Football Hooligans – Specific Characteristics, Attitudes and Behaviour Patterns
2.4 A Typical Day of Football Hooligans
3 The Representation of Masculinity in John King’s The Football Factory
3.1 The Meaning of Violence and Gang Fights
3.2 The Importance of Male Bonding
3.3 Male Sexuality and the Protagonist’s Attitude towards Women
4 Conclusion
References
[...]
The reason why the phenomenon of hooliganism is so strongly linked to football is because this kind of sport is seen “as an appropriate venue for [...] aggressive rivalries, partly because of the working class roots and traditions of the game but also because of the culturally prescribed ‘territorial’ and masculine values which are intrinsic to it.” (Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research 2001: 1) Thus, there is no doubt that typical attitudes and emotions representing “true masculinity” (Holt 1989: 8), such as the celebration of physical strength and the loyalty to ‘mates’ or to a specific territory, are traditional and popular features of football culture. [...]
Since meanwhile, the male-dominated subculture of football hooligans has not only grown to a serious problem in England but also in many other countries around Europe, football-related antisocial behaviour has become a subject to much discussion about masculinity and subcultures in the fields of academics and the media over the past several years and decades. Consequently, my paper aims at presenting football hooliganism as a male subculture with its own values and rituals, which are clearly different from those of our dominant culture, and, furthermore, it tries to analyse what images of masculinity are associated with the subculture of – particularly English – football hooligans. Therefore, my paper will first provide some important theoretical background information about hooligans, which are necessary in order to get into the topic of football hooliganism more elaborately. Then, it will analyse why hooligans belong to a certain form of subculture by presenting and explaining specific characteristics, attitudes and behaviour patterns of football hooligans, and, finally, it shall explore what kind of masculinity is represented by the football hooligans described in John King’s novel The Football Factory.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Spotlight on Football Hooligans – A Theoretical Background
2.1 Defining the Terms “Hooligan” and “Hooliganism”
2.2 The History of Football Hooliganism in England
2.3 The Subculture of Football Hooligans – Specific Characteristics, Attitudes and Behaviour Patterns
2.4 A Typical Day of Football Hooligans
3 The Representation of Masculinity in John King’s The Football Factory
3.1 The Meaning of Violence and Gang Fights
3.2 The Importance of Male Bonding
3.3 Male Sexuality and the Protagonist’s Attitude towards Women
4 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to analyze football hooliganism as a distinct male subculture, examining its specific rituals, values, and attitudes towards masculinity. It further explores how these cultural characteristics are depicted in John King’s novel "The Football Factory" to understand the struggle for identity among working-class men.
- The theoretical origins and development of hooliganism in England.
- Social characteristics and behavioral rituals of football hooligan firms.
- The construction of "true masculinity" through violence and male bonding.
- Literary representation of working-class struggle and gender identity.
Excerpt from the Book
The Meaning of Violence and Gang Fights
Since gang fights are described as the most favourite spare time activity of Tom and his friends in The Football Factory, the celebration of violence has to be considered as a crucial element in the life of a football hooligan. As Tom argues, the feeling of performing violence and fighting hooligans of another gang is clearly superior to everything else he likes:
“You shit yourself inside but the rush is so good you love it more than anything. You push yourself through the fear and you’ve done something that’ll last you the rest of your life. They say it’s adrenalin and that may be true, but all I know is that nothing compares. Not drugs, sex, money, nothing.” (King 1997: 102)
The reason why violent behaviour tends to be a predominantly male domain is explained by the fact that “[g]ender behaviour is rooted in biological imperatives which serve evolutionary purposes” (Brittan 1989: 6). Of course, the “influence of social and cultural factors” cannot be denied, “but this does not amount to anything more than suggesting that culture is itself a particular kind of manifestation of evolutionary mechanisms” (ibid.: 7). Even in childhood, males are trained that “society’s goals are best met by aggression, by actively wrestling their accomplishments from the environment. [...] To be masculine requires not only self reliance and self control, but control over other people and resources” (Lipman-Blumen 1984: 55). Therefore, Tom argues:
“You can’t change human nature. Men are always going to kick fuck out of each other [...]. That’s life.” (King 1997: 2)
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the historical context of spectator violence and introduces the research focus on football hooliganism as a male subculture.
2 Spotlight on Football Hooligans – A Theoretical Background: This chapter provides definitions, historical development, and identifies the core characteristics of hooligan subcultures, including group rituals and social motivations.
2.1 Defining the Terms “Hooligan” and “Hooliganism”: This section traces the etymological origins of the term and differentiates between various forms of hooligan disorder.
2.2 The History of Football Hooliganism in England: This section details the evolution of hooliganism from the 19th century to the rise of organized "firms" in the late 1960s and subsequent security responses.
2.3 The Subculture of Football Hooligans – Specific Characteristics, Attitudes and Behaviour Patterns: This section explores how hooligans form a self-organized social system centered on territorial loyalty, toughness, and specific drinking rituals.
2.4 A Typical Day of Football Hooligans: This section reconstructs the routine of a hooligan, from pre-match pub gatherings to organized violence and post-match reputation management.
3 The Representation of Masculinity in John King’s The Football Factory: This chapter introduces the literary analysis of the novel, focusing on the everyday lives of the characters and the broader implications for working-class masculinity.
3.1 The Meaning of Violence and Gang Fights: This section examines violence as an expression of male identity and a form of rebellion against societal structures.
3.2 The Importance of Male Bonding: This section discusses comradeship within the firm as a crucial survival strategy and an alternative family structure.
3.3 Male Sexuality and the Protagonist’s Attitude towards Women: This section explores how the protagonist views sexuality, gender roles, and the marginalization of women within the hooligan subculture.
4 Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes findings, concluding that hooliganism serves as both a rebellion against the loss of traditional values and a means to achieve masculine status.
Keywords
Football Hooliganism, Masculinity, Subculture, Violence, Male Bonding, Working-class, The Football Factory, John King, Gender Roles, Territoriality, Social Rebellion, Identity, English Football, Firm, Social Insecurity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
This work explores the socio-cultural phenomenon of football hooliganism in England, specifically analyzing the subculture's values, rituals, and its portrayal in John King's novel "The Football Factory".
What are the central themes examined?
The central themes include the construction of aggressive masculinity, the role of violence as a social rebellion, the importance of male bonding as a survival strategy, and attitudes toward female sexuality.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to understand how football hooligans establish their identity and why they adopt specific behaviors that separate them from the dominant society.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The research uses a qualitative approach, combining sociological literature on subcultures and masculinity with a textual analysis of John King's "The Football Factory" to connect theory with literature.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers the theoretical definitions of hooliganism, the historical context of English football violence, the organizational structure of hooligan firms, and a detailed analysis of masculinity, bonding, and sexuality within the novel.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Football Hooliganism, Masculinity, Subculture, Male Bonding, Social Rebellion, and Identity.
How does the author explain the hooligans' aggression?
The author argues that aggression is a means to achieve status, a reaction to perceived societal neglect, and a manifestation of traditional, sometimes archaic, notions of "true masculinity".
What role does "The Football Factory" play in the analysis?
The novel serves as a primary source for illustrating how real-world sociological theories regarding masculinity and social exclusion are reflected and practiced within a fictionalized working-class environment.
Why is male bonding described as a survival strategy?
The work posits that in a climate of economic and social insecurity, the hooligan firm provides a sense of belonging, solidarity, and protection that these men feel they cannot obtain from mainstream institutions.
How does the text interpret the hooligans' attitude towards women?
The text suggests that the characters view women primarily as sexual objects to be exploited, viewing close emotional relationships as a sign of weakness that threatens their masculine identity.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Master of Education Thomas Schachtebeck (Autor:in), 2007, Football Hooligans in England, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/165038
