Presentation by Professor Andrew Sparkes for the ESRC Seminar Series on Ageing and Physical Activity - "Men, ageing and physical activity: Critical reflections" http://seminars.ecehh.org

1. WorkingWorking ‘it’ out in the gym as an embodied space for ageing‘it’ out in the gym as an embodied space for ageing
masculinities: Some critical narrative imaginingsmasculinities: Some critical narrative imaginings
Professor Andrew C. Sparkes PhD
Institute for Sport, Physical Activity & Leisure
Leeds Beckett University
Carnegie Faculty
Headingly Campus
Fairfax Building
Leeds
England
LS6 3QT
Email: a.c.sparkes@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

2. We all know this: that the living body isWe all know this: that the living body is
both an object and a subject …Andboth an object and a subject …And
while the object-body is exposed andwhile the object-body is exposed and
publicly displayed, the subject-body ispublicly displayed, the subject-body is
private and beyond, or before language.private and beyond, or before language.
If one wants to write about living bodiesIf one wants to write about living bodies
this seems to be the place to start, thisthis seems to be the place to start, this
givengiven, that we, that we havehave a public body-a public body-
object andobject and areare a private subject-body.a private subject-body.
(Mol & Law, 2004, p. 43).(Mol & Law, 2004, p. 43).

3. Writing about the body must be a central
task for the subject [critical gerontology] …
We need to give weight to the complexity
and plurality of social and cultural meanings
that have and do adhere to the bodily,
recognizing the ways in which the body and
bodily experience are constituted. And yet at
the same time we need to recognize how
these discourses are formed and take
shape in a dialectical relationship with real
bodies.
(Twigg, 2004, p. 70).

4. The gym as a territory, a
landscape, and assemblage

9. In the gym, I become situated and aware of
myself as an aged and gendered being (amongst
other things) as both a public body-object and a
private subject-body in relation to others, via the
practices of doing my body while they
simultaneously do theirs .
My experience of embodiment, therefore, is not a
purely private affair, but is mediated by my
continual interactions with other people and
objects

10. Reading 1Reading 1

11. Vibrant physicalityVibrant physicality
Sensual pleasures ofSensual pleasures of
experiential and visceralexperiential and visceral
embodimentembodiment
(Monaghan, 2014)(Monaghan, 2014)

16. The narrative body: Body as storyThe narrative body: Body as story
The narrative body is situated in the ‘storiesThe narrative body is situated in the ‘stories
we tellwe tell toto ourselves and stories others tellourselves and stories others tell
aboutabout their own bodies and the bodies oftheir own bodies and the bodies of
others’ (Vannini, 2006, p. 12).others’ (Vannini, 2006, p. 12).
In this act, Frank (2013) emphasizes, we tellIn this act, Frank (2013) emphasizes, we tell
storiesstories outout ofof andand throughthrough our bodies so thatour bodies so that
the kind of body that onethe kind of body that one hashas andand isis
becomes crucial to the kind of story told.becomes crucial to the kind of story told.

17. Reading 2Reading 2

18. Body ShameBody Shame
“Shame, like all other affective experiences occurs“Shame, like all other affective experiences occurs
through the body. Although it can have a clearthrough the body. Although it can have a clear
cognitive dimension, shame, for the most part, iscognitive dimension, shame, for the most part, is
an embodied response. It overwhelms usan embodied response. It overwhelms us
physically, and common physical responsesphysically, and common physical responses
include a sense of physical exposure, coupled withinclude a sense of physical exposure, coupled with
a sense of wanting to hide and withdraw. However,a sense of wanting to hide and withdraw. However,
while shame undoubtedly finds its expressionwhile shame undoubtedly finds its expression
throughthrough the body, shame, as noted above, is oftenthe body, shame, as noted above, is often
aboutabout the body”.the body”.
(Dolezal, 2014, p. 6)(Dolezal, 2014, p. 6)

19. Body shame is a particularly powerful and potentBody shame is a particularly powerful and potent
form of shame. Not only is the body the part ofform of shame. Not only is the body the part of
ourselves that is immediately observable to others,ourselves that is immediately observable to others,
the body is also the seat of personhood., thatthe body is also the seat of personhood., that
which makes meaningful subjective experiencewhich makes meaningful subjective experience
possible – the body is the ground of the self.possible – the body is the ground of the self.
Although IAlthough I amam my body, there is also a sense inmy body, there is also a sense in
which Iwhich I havehave my body.my body.
In shame, a distance opens up between oneselfIn shame, a distance opens up between oneself
and oneand one’s body; one becomes uncomfortable in’s body; one becomes uncomfortable in
one’s own skin, so to speak.one’s own skin, so to speak. (Dolezal, 2014, p. 7)(Dolezal, 2014, p. 7)

20. The chairThe chair
In anthropology, liminality (from the Latin word līmen,
meaning "a threshold") is the quality of ambiguity or
disorientation that occurs in the middle stage of rituals,
when participants no longer hold their pre-ritual status but
have not yet begun the transition to the status they will hold
when the ritual ...
Unwelcome guest – a reminder of vulnerability
Michel Foucault: Technologies of power that regulate theMichel Foucault: Technologies of power that regulate the
bodybody
(1) Gaze(1) Gaze
(2) self-surveillance(2) self-surveillance

21. The spectre at the windowThe spectre at the window
Ghost, phantom, apparition, spiritGhost, phantom, apparition, spirit
wraith, shadow, illusionswraith, shadow, illusions
Something widely feared as aSomething widely feared as a
possible unpleasant or dangerouspossible unpleasant or dangerous
occurrenceoccurrence

23. Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
Is an inflammatory condition that many people now believe can be aIs an inflammatory condition that many people now believe can be a
form of vasculitis. It is categorised as an autoimmune illness.form of vasculitis. It is categorised as an autoimmune illness.
It causes severe pain, discomfort, tenderness and stiffness in the largeIt causes severe pain, discomfort, tenderness and stiffness in the large
muscles around the shoulders, hips and back.muscles around the shoulders, hips and back.
It generally affects older people and is rare in people under 50.It generally affects older people and is rare in people under 50.
The average age of onset is around 76. The average age of onset is around 76.
Each year about 4 out of every 10,000 people in the UK develop PMR,Each year about 4 out of every 10,000 people in the UK develop PMR,
and about three quarters of these are women.and about three quarters of these are women.
Standard treatment is long-term use of corticosteroids (minimum of 2-3
years)
Often goes together with Giant Cell Arteritis
(GCA)

24. Back in the gymBack in the gym
22 lbs lighter22 lbs lighter
A lot weakerA lot weaker
Limited range of exercise now possible (e.g., noLimited range of exercise now possible (e.g., no
bench press)bench press)
Different sense of embodiment?Different sense of embodiment?
New meanings of gym as a territory?New meanings of gym as a territory?
Narrative resources and scripts available?Narrative resources and scripts available?
What stories float by in the river of not-for-me?What stories float by in the river of not-for-me?
How best to reconstruct myself as an ageing man?How best to reconstruct myself as an ageing man?

25. How would you write the nextHow would you write the next
part of my story?part of my story?