Even though I only studied the first quarter heavily, it did not seem aberrational from any other football that I've watched. An in-depth examination of the rhetoric involved in one televised football game yields some surprising conclusions. Some preconceived notions are supported, but other stereotypes fall apart because the evidence simply isn't there to back them up. The rhetorical significance of football is shown through its intended audience, presentation of play, and fan devotion. So, with this as a representative sample of the football medium, a study of this uniquely American sport can begin.
Football is intended for men.
The stereotype of football fans is they are men, and women actually see no point in the game whatsoever. The presenters of football buy heavily into this stereotype, and all of the coverage is focused on appealing to men. The commercials that help frame the game are directed at men. The University of Oklahoma explicitly disclaims any legal liability for the contents of this page or information accessible from this page. Web pages are provided as a privilege to OU students to enhance their life long learning experience, and the opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the institution or its student body.