Youtube Video of Leafs vs. Hurricanes

(Courtesy: Toronto Maple Leafs)

This video of the ice rink video projection was amazing. I have only seen brief projections and images displayed on the ice before, but nothing this detailed and engaging. I even enjoyed the use of the song Tsunami by DVBBS. This is surely a good choice for a hockey game as it gets people hyped up before the teams face off. The introductory images were truly cinematic and overwhelming. I rather enjoyed seeing the rink lit up like that, and would like to play hockey with just the projections on the ice. It would make for a great challenge and one of a kind experience. The blend between sports, art and technology have really evolved over the past decade. I can only imagine what the future will bring to societies favorite pass times. It is interesting to think that sporting events are now more than ever reliant on marketing and promoting of certain brands as well as products. 

WWE Vs. UFC

WWE Vs. UFC (Courtesy: www.ifcompare.com)

The article "The World of Wrestling" by Roland Barthes brought an interesting topic to light, the difference between spectacle and demonstration of excellence. In regards to wrestling, its roots as a performance based entertainment draws attention to the dramatizations performed by the wrestlers as opposed to boxing, where a match is determined by a battle of skill and passion for the sport. Barthes identified a grave reality when comparing the two in the following quote.

"The logical conclusion of the contest does not interest the wrestling-fan, while on the contrary a boxing-match always implies a science of the future." 

What Barthes does best in stating such, is the outcome of both wrestling and boxing as well as their importance to its spectators. Personally, I grew up watching wrestling but never worried about who won so long as there was sufficient action. With the advent of the UFC and boxing ever more prevalent than in the recent years, boxing has received much more praise for its ability to attract all crowds.  So therefore, I believe there is validity in Barthes viewpoint and statements to back it up. As mentioned in the reading, wrestling draws upon and shares elements of theatre. Suffering, defeat and justice as Barthes claims, can all be witnessed during a wrestling match, all while using the crowd's emotions to fuel the outcome.

Despite being predetermined matches, I would enjoy the Tables, Ladders and Chairs (TLC) matches. These always seemed to portray the more realistic violence than the proverbial punches or stomps. Fans have taken their own approach to the "sport" and have created backyard wrestling, which portrays similar themes, however, involves untrained participants who actually sustain real injuries. Many popular television shows such as Tosh.0 or Ridiculousness have aired home videos that have shown such events. Pop culture has also taken their approach at the modern day perception of the spectacle. South Park and Workaholics have parodied the theatrics of wrestling highlighting the outrageous backstories that the wrestlers direct to the audience and the whimsical gullibility of their audience. Overall, my take on wrestling is a negative perception, however, it is difficult to ignore because it is a multi-million dollar industry.