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What would Ernest Becker say about hockey games in his book about death?
Ernest Becker, in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book *The Denial of Death*, would likely have a complex and multi-layered interpretation of hockey games, rooted in his core arguments about mortality salience and the human drive for heroism. Here's a breakdown of how he might analyze it:
**1. A Symbolic Struggle Against Death:**
* **Heroism and Immortality Project:** Becker argues that humans cope with the terror of death by seeking symbolic immortality through "heroism projects." These projects are ways of transcending our finite existence by contributing to something larger than ourselves, like a career, a family, a nation, or a specific cultural system. Hockey, for Becker, would be seen as one such culturally sanctioned heroism project. The players become *heroes* on the ice, battling for victory, and potentially achieving a kind of symbolic "life beyond death" through their achievements and legacy.
* **The Arena as a Ritual Space:** Becker saw rituals as a crucial way for humans to manage existential anxiety. The hockey arena becomes a sacred space for this ritual. The predetermined rules, the chants of the crowd, the uniforms, the pre-game routines – all contribute to a sense of order and meaning in the face of chaos and death. The controlled violence and physicality of the game can be seen as a symbolic confrontation with the very forces of destruction that lead to death.
* **The Quest for Transcendence through Performance:** Hockey players, in their peak performance, strive for a kind of transcendence. They enter a state of flow, pushing themselves beyond their limits, demonstrating superhuman skill and strength. This striving, even if temporary, provides a temporary escape from the awareness of their mortal limitations.
**2. The Crowd's Participation in the Immortality Project:**
* **Vicarious Living:** Spectators participate in the immortality project vicariously. By identifying with the team, they share in the players' victories and feel a sense of collective accomplishment. The crowd's roar is a collective affirmation of life, a temporary denial of mortality. They are saying, in essence, "We are alive! We are strong! We are winning!" through the actions of their heroes on the ice.
* **Scapegoating and the "Other":** Becker understood that the desire for heroism can also lead to the creation of "others" – those who represent threats to one's own sense of meaning and belonging. In hockey, the opposing team becomes the "other" – the force that threatens the home team's quest for victory and symbolic immortality. The aggression directed towards the opposing team becomes a way of projecting and managing anxieties related to death and the unknown.
* **Tribalism and Belonging:** The communal experience of watching hockey fosters a sense of belonging. Fans identify strongly with their team, creating a shared identity and purpose. This sense of belonging provides comfort and security, which are crucial for managing existential anxiety. You are not alone in the face of death; you are part of a group.
**3. Potential Negatives and Distortions:**
* **False Heroism:** Becker warned that many heroism projects are based on illusion and self-deception. A hockey player's identity may become overly reliant on their athletic success, leading to a crisis of meaning when their career ends. Similarly, fans may become overly invested in the team's success, neglecting other aspects of their lives and experiencing a sense of emptiness when the team loses.
* **Displacement of Anxiety:** Hockey, like other cultural rituals, can be a way of displacing anxieties about death onto more manageable symbols. The focus on the game itself can become a distraction from deeper existential questions.
* **Blindness to Mortality:** The intensity and excitement of a hockey game can create a temporary sense of invincibility, blinding participants to their own mortality. This can lead to reckless behavior, both on and off the ice.
**In summary, Becker would see a hockey game as a complex social ritual that provides a temporary escape from the awareness of death by:**
* **Offering players and fans a chance to participate in a heroism project.**
* **Creating a sense of belonging and shared purpose.**
* **Providing a symbolic outlet for aggression and the management of existential anxieties.**
However, he would also caution against the potential for **false heroism, displacement of anxiety, and a dangerous blindness to mortality.** Ultimately, Becker's analysis would highlight the ways in which even seemingly simple activities like watching or playing hockey are deeply intertwined with our fundamental human struggle to confront and deny the reality of death.
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