The Formula 1 Race as a Phenomenon

Aspects of masculinity and modernity

Författare

• Ann-Helen Sund

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37447/bk.130564

Nyckelord:

masculinity, modernity, values, car racing

Abstract

When I started a course in English, the teacher explained that we were all to give a presentation on a chosen subject, but he did not want to hear another one on F1 and Mika Häkkinen! This shows that there is not only an interest in watching F1 on TV, but also in exploring the subject and talking about and explaining facts about the sport. I also seem to discern a current debate on the meaningfulness versus the meaninglessness of Formula 1. I myself have found F1 fairly meaningless. But why is all this discussed? What values does the debate express? What opinions are there of Formula 1 and what do they tell us about today's society? My aim is to analyse Formula 1 as a modern/latemodern phenomenon; partly as a phenomenon as such and partly in terms of how the ordinary TV audience experiences and describes it. Today only men drive F1 cars, and therefore I think that Formula 1 might also reveal something about the current concept of masculinity.