Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling," took an interesting approach to the different dynamics one can observe in the sport of wrestling. I appreciated the way that Barthes highlighted how wrestling can be seen as an art form. He described one large attribute of wrestling, which is a topic we often discuss in class, which is the spectacle aspect of wrestling. The sport is aesthetically pleasing due to the large performance that takes place. The anticipation of the fight, watching fist to flesh combat, and sweating human forms are all examples of visuals that can be observed with wrestling. In this sense, it is simple to see how it can be construed as an art.
Additionally, I appreciated the way Barthes painted the view of the stage. Bright lights that shine down so sharply, dark crowds, and the stage placed in the center of the room; makes for a perfect spectacle. Barthes also went into immense detail on how the body language of the wrestlers spoke volumes and had symbolism behind every pose. My favorite line in the reading states "What the
public wants is the image of passion, not passion itself," because I feel that sums up the art aspect behind wrestling. Wrestling is all about expression through body language and movement, and the spectacle that it creates.
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