Blog 17 (Research Question, Methods, and Relevant Research)

1.      The focus of my research project will be how identity on clothing (particularly baseball and football teams) characterizes the kind of behavior we show while wearing these clothes.

2.      I will be using four methods in my research project: autobiography, ethnography, interview, and discourse analysis.  I will use autobiography to introduce how, when, and why I became a fan of certain baseball and football teams (New York Mets and New York Giants respectively).  I will also talk about how I came to strongly dislike certain teams and some of their fans because of the rivalry that exists between them and my favorite teams.  I would use ethnography by attending a Mets and Philadelphia Phillies (Mets division and most hated rivals) game in Philadelphia to observe how classless and immature their fans truly are when they wear team apparel. (no offense if anyone in this class likes Philadelphia sports teams)  I plan on using interview as a method and I would talk to my mom’s best friend who happens to be a die-hard Giants fan and would ask certain questions like

·         How long have you been a Giants fan?

·         How often will you wear Giants apparel?

·         How many games per season do you attend?

·         Do you act differently when wearing Giants clothing?

·         What do you do when you see someone else wearing Giants clothing?

·         How do you respond when you see someone wearing Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles clothing?  (Cowboys and Eagles= division and hated rivals of Giants) 

I would finally use discourse analysis to find out if she had a certain tone in her voice and what might have led to that tone.

3.      I would use many different outside sources to prove some of these points.  One article in particular from GQ Magazine briefly explains how and why Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies are the number 2 and 1 worst fans in America. (http://www.gq.com/sports/lists/201104/worst-sports-fans-in-america#slide=14)

There is also an article from USA Today that talks about how sports fan violence has gotten way out of control.  (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2011-08-22-stadium-violence-shooting-raiders-49ers-game_n.htm)

I might also use a book entitled Sports Fan Violence in North America by Jerry Middleton Lewis.