Sociologically, there is a reciprocal relationship between self and society. The things that we do and our immediate environment remarkably determine our identity. Our actions influence the society leading to the creation of institutions, groups, and organizations. Reciprocally, the society influences our identity through shared meanings and languages that enable us to take the role of the others, our own roles, and position in the society as well as engaging in complete and ingenuous social interactions (Berreby 127). The process of reflexivity establishes the central of selfhood. Although our neighborhoods are becoming evermore detached and anonymous, losing our identity can be one reprehensible factor that might apparently be costly.
Being an American, I have always strived to maintain my identity as a staunch baseball supporter. As a self, I exist in a society where playing or watching American football is considered an important leisureliness activity. In college, virtually everyone associates me with baseball and I considered it as a true identification of myself amongst the students. For these essential reasons, I chose the below collage since I perceive it to be an identity of the American people, philosophy and artistically indicate my position in the contemporary American society. The various makers represent various aspects of our American community (Berreby 164). Additionally, the fervent love that I have for baseball hugely forced me to settle on this specific collage, that unequivocally indicate the strength of the American baseball fans and players where racial boundaries seem to be irrelevant. It is a sport that currently coalesces the Americans notwithstanding their social, political or economic credentials.
This collage represents a cultural value where individuals need to feel part of “us” by associating themselves with a group. In this collage, all the soccer fans who like Serra represent the sense of “us." According to the social scientists, the sense of “us” produces the sense of “them.” As the Serra soccer team and all the fans represent evident in the collage, the sense of “us," I included. On the other hand, the sense of “them” is the opponent team and their fans (Berreby 120). Our identity in this case is revealed by the extensive use of the color blue. The players in most of the pictures in the collage wear blue jerseys, or sometimes white but blue helmets.
The combination of the different cultural aspects displayed in the above collage depicts both strength in my exploration and commitment to baseball. The collage enables my colleagues to identify me as a truthful baseball supporter, who candidly enjoys success and is out to achieve more than the society’s expects. My patriotism for my state and my love for the sport is imaginatively signified. Moreover, a glimpse at the collage will definitely inform any cogent individual that I am a baseball loving student, and patriotic citizen of the US. Remarkably, the inclusion of a hoisted American flag will clearly inform others that I am an American who under no circumstances fails to celebrate the achievements of their team and offers them moral and material support. Fighting for and celebrating success is bizarrely one of my outstanding feature that I have always been jubilantly being identified with.
In our culture, we believe in committing sacrifice ourselves for the betterment of the community. According to Berreby (120), “human being will give a lot, including their lives, for group they feel part of and they would also harm ‘them.'” In the case of this collage, Serra team members are shown scrambling, fighting and struggling to win the match. They engage all of their efforts to ensure that they dominate their opponents. As a result, this collage indicates the spirit of our culture, which requires individuals to mind the business and fight for the group they belong to.
The elements in my college that represents various cultural values in America help other people to identify us using banners and the theme color. The flag, as one element in a collage, help other people to identify patriotism. Therefore, the flag helps the opponents [them] or other individuals to mark us as a product and members of the American football Association. The scrambling and fighting spirits in the collage elements identify our attitude of domination and determination. Thus, people label us as “fighters” and the team that has a spirit of dominating and excelling in the American football. The circle “S” is a team logo that help the other people identify us as Serra.
Most people associate me with the baseball because of my love for the sport. During college sports, I am usually enthusiastic to participate in watching the game and ready to sacrifice my leisure time to be part of the die-hard fans of baseball in my college. I have purchased banners and baseball uniforms that I carry with me whenever I am watching the game. Everyone in college realizes the deep affection I have for the game. The identity is an essential trait that attracts both love and hatred at the same time. The unique style of my adoration for the baseball sport distinguishes me from other students. Because of this unique identity, I have faced resistance and victimization from students who believe that the game promotes hooliganism because it is violent and aggressive.
I also interact with the baseball players so that I can learn more about the game. I am also a member of the organizing committee in the sport and this makes creates a clear identity of me. I have interacted and created bonds with both the players and supporters of the game and mostly, the people I hang around with are somehow linked with the game. One of the utmost fascinating areas of my identity is dealing with the contempt that I face from students who believe that baseball only creates mysteries in life. I am easily identified with baseball because most of the events around me revolve the support and strong stand on the game.
In conclusion, sports play a significant role in shaping the identity of college students. Every day, something new happens, but the students ensure any actions they take will not harm their love for games. As an alternative, the college students values healthy competition and avoid any intention's to destroy the love for sports that draw a unique identity.
Work cited
Berreby, David. Us and Them: Understanding Your Tribal Mind. New York: Little, Brown and Co, 2005. Print.
Jeffrey Collins and Kristen Wyatt. Whither the southern accent. Associated Press. (AP). Collins, at the Columbia, South Carolina, AP bureau, 2000.
