Expectations and Subverting the Olympic Narrative

by Ben Howard

My two favorite stories at the Olympics so far are Aly Raisman and Michael Phelps. Don't worry, this isn't going to be an ode to "America's Underdog Gymnast" and "The Greatest Olympian Ever." I'll leave those articles to people who cover sports for a living. Raisman and Phelps are my favorite stories because they undermined the corporately approved narrative of the Olympics. I love me some subversion.

Every time the Olympics come around, we the viewing public get a new batch of corporately approved stars. Almost every commercial during the Games is based around some athlete who was expected to win, expected to become a star, expected to become the love of the entire United States population.

However, much to the dismay of BP and Proctor & Gamble and other corporate sponsors, the Olympics are comprised of actual sports which don't necessarily go according to plans. These expectations drive the narrative of the Olympics.

That's why I love Raisman and Phelps. Raisman was an afterthought. The 3rd member of Team USA. And Phelps? Phelps was boring and played out. His story was old. Ryan Lochte and his diamond-studded grill were far more interesting than Phelps and his brooding greatness.

Then the events happened. Raisman went from afterthought to a 2-time gold medalist, who just missed a bronze in the all-around finals. After a rough start in the 400 IM, Phelps made it his personal mission to make Ryan Lochte into a footnote on the way to becoming the most decorated Olympian in history (Zeus excepted).

Expectations are a powerful thing and they can drastically affect the way we respond to the world. It's not simply limited to the emotional aspect of sports either. Historically, the Jewish people expected a Messiah who would be a physical conqueror and king. When they received a different interpretation of the conqueror and king, they crucified him.

This extends to the modern church as well. If you expect that the world ends in a fiery inferno, then you'll act with that goal in mind and God's creation becomes a sinking ship we need to escape. If you expect God to embrace everyone no matter what, then you'll find that there's a thin line between acceptance and apathy.

I'm not saying which one is right or wrong. I certainly have my opinions and expectations. Everyone does. I want to see how things play out and I'm going to assume we're all wrong to one degree or another. That's the way predicting the future works. (Though I'm still holding out hope for that Chicago-Miami World Series in 2015, you promised Back to the Future II).

It'll all make sense. Just be patient. And have faith that all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.

Peace,
Ben


When Ben isn't gleefully rooting for subversive athletes, he likes to wax rhapsodic about James Harden's pharaoh beard. You can follow him on Twitter @BenHoward87.

Quick Thoughts on Back to the Future

by Ben Howard

So far everything written on this site has been structured like a long form essay.  Those take some time to craft and write, so I wanted to try a few quick thoughts posts from our two most recent Movie Nights.  First, Back to the Future, and hopefully later today, Les Miserables.

Back to the Future places a heavy emphasis on the belief that your present life is eventually at the mercy of your past.  The person you were will eventually become the person you are.  The McFly’s, Doc Brown, and Biff are all the same characters they were in high school.  The only way for the McFly’s family life to improve is a change in the past because in the future they are locked into a life of lower-middle class despair and angst. 

This is really opposed to the Christian notion of an active God and redeemer.  The idea of redemption and the capactity for growth assume the ability to develop and change over time.  Essentially, they assume that, with the Spirit, we are not forever the person we are at any one time.  The movie even makes a somewhat similar point when Marty, an outside agent, forces George to confront his fears, thus enabling him to be the kind of man who becomes “successful” as seen in the return to 1985 at the end of the film.

Other topics of interest:

-Masculinity and bullying in the relationship between George and Biff.  George has to punch Biff to assert himself as the dominant male.

-Stories we tell ourselves and their relative truth. Lorraine tells Marty that she was never “that kind of girl”, but we learn that in the past she truly is.  Why do you avoid telling the truth about who we are/were?

-Success is based on power and monetary wealth.  Marty’s family is portrayed as poor and sad, but then when they are rich and successful later, they are happy.  The assumption is that “good” people overcome their obstacles and become successful.

-The myth of the idyllic society.  The 1950’s are presented as sparkling and clean, but there is the same violence, the same dark motivations, and the same problems as in 1985, only under a shiny veneer.

Peace,
Ben