Events - Talks

Of Sport & Men (1961)

Hubert Aquin/ Roland Barthes

26 Jun 2012

7pm - 9pm

The Space

"What compels these men to attack? Why are men so disturbed by this spectacle? Why do they get involved so entirely? Why this needless fighting? What is sport?"

In 1961, philosopher Roland Barthes collaborated with filmmaker Hubert Aquin to produce a film, for Canadian television, intended to reveal the poetics of sport and spectatorship. The question 'what is sport' is answered by Barthes' eloquently scripted commentary. The recurring theme of purging violence from society into the spectacle of sport runs through the film.

Introduced by Professor Murray Pratt, Nottingham Trent University.

Nottingham Contemporary’s public programme is jointly funded by Nottingham Trent University and The University of Nottingham.