Roland Barthes' "The World of Wrestling"

In this episode, I present Roland Barthes' "The World of Wrestling."
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[@StevensBorowsky]

When Barthes wrote this, it was genius; writing on the topic at the time proves that he was a great critic. To recognize the tragic form in wrestling, even today, is too much for most. He would have loved the fact that wrestling went into the anti-hero in the mid 1990s, and then into full self-aware irony in the early 2000s. But his writing certainly does not apply to wrestling today -- wrestling has became a thoroughly postmodern outlet -- come the early 2000s, suddenly 150 pound men were wrestling men the size of Hulk Hogan, and to ridiculous affect, where the only fans of wrestling became fans who actually understood a kind of back-room drama regarding "the business," as they called it. But after 20 years of enduring this hell, finally we have come full circle into a metamodern situation where people understand and even embrace the fictiousness of modern wrestling, beyond just the condescending wink and the nod -- they now yearn for a storyline that will give them the suspension of disbelief that they crave, something which will again allow them to believe in the mythological. But it must be co-created in some sense to transcend the irony, because the old mid-south wrestling stories have become cliched. And so we will see this kind of metamodern storyline. It's impossible to go back, but we will see situations with credibility that allow us to "believe," whilst navigating our ironic suspicions. Wrestling, perhaps culture itself, has no other avenue to pursue. Wrestling, as we know it, died with the expiration of "kayfabe" -- of course it was known since the early 1900's that wrestling was a "work," but it was never truly "exposed" as modern media has done, and its path forward now, if it will continue to exist, lies in the physical reenactment of virtual worlds. Collective worlds of the imagination that somehow recapitulate myth whilst simultaneously maintaining some kind of skepticism. How can wrestling not be approached cynically? This is the problem of booking wrestling today, and why wrestling should be hiring religion PhDs rather than marketing experts for booking matches. The question now of course is whether any of it is marketable on a mass scale? Probably some individuals will come along who will discover the key to backyard wrestling tragedy who will put big legacy wrestling out of business forever, by temporarily figuring out how to bypass this extreme current of contempt and cynicism again.

[@reibala9460]

bruh

[@joshuaburke7606]

Loved this, like always. Thanks David!

[@UXmatt]

As an educator and new content creator myself (mostly for my students), I just wanted to say that I really appreciate all of your work.

[@wendylewis4591]

You've got an adorable spirit!!! Excellent channel full of fascinating topics. Keep it up!👏👏👏👏🧡

[@secondattender]

Excellent video. An interesting aspect of the last thirty years of pro wrestling has been the resistance of wrestling fans to those signs of moral values and the growing self awareness of the televised crowd as an empowered actor. The stories of Bret Hart and Steve Austin in 97, showed the promoters utilize the moral ambivalence and create a truly iconic charater. Later the crowd detailed storylines and self annointed Zach Ryder and Daniel Bryan. Finally the crowd (specifically the post WrestleMania Monday night shows) would indulge in chanting the names of wrestlers long retired and or fired, as well as chanting "we are awesome", and playing with inflatable beach balls instead of paying attention to the drama in the ring. To me this is in line with baudrillard's idea of lack of seperation between spectacle and spectator.

[@lasersnake]

Roland Balth 😂 I had to check in after the Guy Deball episode and I was not disappointed. It’s punctum that continually throws me off as a listener. Whoever you’re learning your French from is taking the piss.

[@saradiart5994]

Thank you very much for this video, David. I enjoyed it very much. With regards to Roland Barthes, i think that his later work is even more interesting than Mythologies, because he is not trying "expose" -> his lectures on the neutral, on language and desire (not only the pleasure of the text), and more. I would love to hear a video from you on his later works, because they are not that easy to understand (for me).

[@anubhabadnanrushnan9288]

Please do a video on Romans in films. And really thank you for your efforts.

[@kevingeorge3423]

👍

[@Benforeva]

Is wrestling a Heideggerian artwork?

[@fourtimez]

You’re the best bro. America 🇺🇸 is so carney. North America 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🎡

[@panembahansenopati1218]

still wondering this: when a myth is meant to convey message(s), then what is the myth of american wrestling? thanks in advance 💐👍

[@prerna22munshi]

Thanks David. It just dawned upon me how wrestling makes violence appealing, how so many spectators start identifying with their favorite players as a way to possibly vent their subconscious predilection for violence. Also, how wrestling normalises or justifies violence by codifying it into rules.

[@cli260]

That is a great conclusion. I do think about it kinda in the same vein as of women's objectification and homophobia in hip-hop lyrics. Both mediums are problematic but also very engaging.

[@oussamajt7099]

The french theorists make the weirdest comparisons

[@rcoven4921]

Thanks David..nice home by the way..advice..get an editor..take walks while you philosophize..very stylish...you might visit a coffee shop sometimes..and solicit a camera man/someone you can play off of..u know a person to ask feedback from and visit some big cities..almost always one can find great shots amongst the architecture of any great city. And lastly..invite guests..touching base with your followers..like me..always has its charm. B good..gotta go arrest some people..R

[@fourtimez]

Abe Lincoln was undefeated before he became president 🤣 its tru

[@Rami-ll2bq]

wrestling goes back to ancient greeks? I believe persians owned wrestling few millennia before greeks, also i can imagine cave men wrestle! lol