I find it really interesting how games are used as a display of social and political functions of a State. It is also interesting how the changing nature of the Chinese economy and political system in the 1980s influenced how China was able to compete both on a national and international level.
I thought the chapter on media influence and commercialization was interesting as well. It brings to mind the debate on paid athletes in the Olympics, and should athletes be paid as much as they do. Does commercialization and consumer culture ruin games? Or make them better?
I found the chapter on gender particularly interesting. I would have had the exact same assumption as Brownell, that Chinese sports would be less inclusive and accepting of female athletes than American. After reading the chapter however it makes sense that China began to accept women into the sports world quicker than the US. I thought it was funny how her coach told her that the female shot putter was not masculine, but “fat” and would have a hard time finding a husband. The more I learn about gender relations in China the more this idea begins to make sense and reflect gender relations in China.