This book gives an up-to-date insight into the world of professional wrestling, its history, its mechanisms, and its cultural importance both globally and nationally in the US. The author depicts the diegetic world of the WWE as a genre of its own, a genre that requires expertise from the viewer in order to be interpreted accurately. Accordingly, this paper analyses the way the WWE makes use of semiotic tools and narrative elements. Moreover key issues concerning gender, sexuality, authenticity, politics, ideology, and the fans' role and perspective are addressed. There is also a special focus on how the WWE has been playfully dealing with reality / real events within its fictional, diegetic world since the legendary Montral Screwjob from 1997 - the latter being an aspect which sets professional wrestling, which is widely regarded as part of postmodern "trash culture", apart from other, similar sorts of entertainment. All in all, "Wrestling Literacy" is a wonderful guide for anyone who happens to switch to one of WWE's weekly TV shows (such as Raw, Smackdown, or NXT) without having the slightest idea of what he sees. "Wrestling Literacy" is also a good read for all academics of culture and media studies in general. But "Wrestling Literacy" is a must-read for all wrestling fans, especially those with some degree of academic interest in the subject matter.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Theoretical Approaches
II.1. What Does Media Literacy Mean?
II.2. Reality in the Context of Media Literacies
II.3. Representation
II.4. Roland Barthes
II.4.1. General Aspects about his Work
II.4.2. His Observations on Wrestling
III. The History of Wrestling
III.1. Its Origins
III.2. Wrestling Moves across the Big Pond
III.3. The American Catch-as-catch-can
III.4. The Rise of Wrestling as a Show
III.5. Wrestling Moves to Television
III.6. The Monopoly of the World Wrestling Federation
IV. The WWE Today
IV.1. Basic Structure of the Medium
IV.2. Popularity: Numbers, Figures, Explanations
IV.3. The Wrestling Match
IV.3.1. Context
IV.3.2. The Presentation of the Match
IV.4. The Role and Perspective of the Fans
V. Key Issues in the WWE Diegesis
V.1. Authenticity and Reality
V.2. Gender and Sexuality
V.3. Politics and Ideology
VI. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The primary aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive analysis of professional wrestling as a cultural and media phenomenon, specifically focusing on the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The research explores how the WWE functions as a unique, multimedia-based genre that combines sport, drama, and entertainment. By investigating its history, structure, and the complex relationship between performers, promoters, and fans, the paper addresses how meaning is constructed through storylines and representations rather than solely through the athletic outcome of matches.
- The evolution of professional wrestling from a legitimate sport to a scripted form of 'sports entertainment'.
- The theoretical application of media literacy, representation, and the diegetic world to the analysis of wrestling.
- The pivotal role of fans and online interaction in shaping WWE storylines and the broader wrestling culture.
- The analysis of gender roles, sexuality, and the use of racial and political stereotypes within the WWE.
- The blurred lines between "real-life" events and fictional storylines in the modern era of the WWE.
Excerpt from the Book
The Wrestling Match
This chapter shall take a closer look at one particular showcase match to exemplify the way signs are used to convey meaning and create tension in the WWE shows. It will be a recent match between John Cena and Randy Orton who both belong to the WWE Raw roster. The match took place on February 18, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada during a PPV called No Way Out. At first, it will be necessary to explain the context of the match because, as already said, professional wrestling angles are evaluated in the context of storylines and, more recently, writing. While it is important to get a solid storyline from bookers and writers [...] the execution of the angle must take place in the ring. In that sense, the matches become stories within a story.
The two contenders had been involved in a scripted feud for more than a year and already faced each other in the wrestling ring several times. In each case, Cena walked out the winner. He had been the titleholder of the WWE Championship, the most prestigious title of the league, since September 17, 2006 and had not lost a match ever since. When he was injured in a match in October 2007 (not scripted), he had to take a break from wrestling for several months. The title became vacant and was given to Randy Orton, Cena’s number one challenger for the title at the time before his injury. A few weeks before No Way Out, Cena surprisingly reappeared during the Royal Rumble PPV event and challenged Orton for a match to reclaim his title.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: The introduction contrasts the perception of Olympic wrestling with professional wrestling and establishes the WWE as a unique, story-driven cultural medium.
II. Theoretical Approaches: This chapter defines media literacy and semiotic analysis as essential tools for interpreting the "text" of wrestling, summarizing Roland Barthes' seminal work on the subject.
III. The History of Wrestling: This section provides a diachronic overview, tracing the evolution from ancient combat traditions and the catch-as-catch-can era to the rise of television and the consolidation of the industry under the WWF/WWE.
IV. The WWE Today: This chapter examines the contemporary structure, organization, and various multimedia components of the WWE, including television shows, fan interaction, and the role of storylines in modern production.
V. Key Issues in the WWE Diegesis: The chapter explores the complex tensions between authenticity and reality, gender dynamics, sexuality, and the integration of political and social ideologies within WWE programming.
VI. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, noting the shift away from amateur-based sport toward an experimental, multimedia-based genre that is deeply reliant on fan engagement and complex narrative trajectories.
Keywords
Professional Wrestling, WWE, Media Literacy, Semiotics, Representation, Diegesis, Roland Barthes, Sports Entertainment, Storytelling, Narrative, Fans, Authenticity, Gender Roles, Pop Culture, Intermediality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this academic work?
The work provides an in-depth analytical investigation of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a distinct cultural medium and a complex "sports entertainment" genre rather than a traditional sport.
What are the core thematic fields covered?
Key themes include the historical development of the sport, the application of media theory to wrestling, the construction of storylines, gender and sexuality portrayals, and the political and social ideologies reflected in the WWE.
What is the primary research goal or central question?
The paper seeks to answer what professional wrestling is in the modern era, how it functions as a medium, and why it maintains such high levels of popularity despite its predetermined outcomes.
Which scientific methods are employed in this analysis?
The author utilizes a combination of media studies, narratology, and semiotic analysis to interpret wrestling as a text, while also drawing on historical records and cultural studies research.
What topics are explored in the main body of the work?
The main body treats wrestling as a narrative vehicle, analyzing the role of fans, the integration of real-world events into storylines, and the impact of the WWE’s multimedia business structure on the wrestling audience.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Essential keywords include Professional Wrestling, WWE, Media Literacy, Semiotics, Diegesis, Sports Entertainment, Narrative, and Intermediality.
How does the author analyze the role of Vince McMahon within the WWE narrative?
The author highlights how McMahon transitioned from a businessman to an on-screen wrestling character, effectively blurring the lines between reality and the staged diegetic world of the promotion.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the "reality" of wrestling?
The author concludes that while the athleticism and somatic effects of the violence are real, wrestling operates within a complex narrative framework where the line between business, performer identity, and fiction is deliberately obscured.
- Quote paper
- Karsten Keuchler (Author), 2009, Wrestling Literacy. The Diegetic World of World Wrestling Entertainment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/280131
