A Canadian university is offering fans of Cristiano
Ronaldo the opportunity to take a course in the Real
Madrid star.

The University of British Columbia Okanagan is
enrolling for a fourth-year sociology module on
Ronaldo due to his popularity and influence on
Portuguese and global society.

Luis LM Aguiar, associate professor of sociology in
UBC Okanagan’s Irving K. Barber School of Arts and
Sciences, said: "Sociology is nothing if not the delving into the processes of structuring identities and experiences and exposing the social forces that push these processes.

"In this case, I'm interested in how Ronaldo has been
used to construct several discourses about who he is,
what makes him distinct as a footballer, what is his
relationship to Portugal, Madeira (his hometown)
and indeed Portuguese identity."

During the semester-long course, students will
examine the stereotypical image of Ronaldo and the
Portuguese diaspora. "Ronaldo is said to embody features and
characteristics of speed, strength, competetiveness,
dogged work ethic, discipline, and adaptability,"
added Aguiar on news.ok.ubc.ca.

"These features are also in a sense 'very Portuguese'
since the Portuguese outside the homeland are
nothing if not constructed as hard workers,
disciplined and determined. Even as a global athlete
transcending geographical boundaries, Ronaldo
cannot escape the stereotypical constructions of 'the
Portuguese'.

"My two greatest passions are football and critical
sociology. A course on Cristiano Ronaldo gives me
the opportunity to combine the two.
"While I’m an admirer of Ronaldo, I’m also a
sociologist interested in understanding the socialand
economic forces driving the various constructions of
this athlete and what this says about our
contemporary values and culture."

Ronaldo is not the first Madrid name to become the
subject of higher education. Staffordshire University
offered students the chance to take a module in
'David Beckham studies' prior to the former England
captain's move from Manchester United to Spain.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2015/02/06/8666992/canadian-university-offers-chance-to-study-ronaldo?ICID=HP_BN_1

Kolomental.