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Post by imec on Feb 19, 2010 17:54:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2010 18:22:22 GMT
Oh, I thought you were going to mention curling.  Generally, the losers think that figure skating is not a sport due to subjectivity, which means of course that diving, synchronized swimming, and gymnastics are not sports either, along with the equestrian sports, etc. etc. etc. It would be interesting if the ridiculous costumes were replaced with one unified outfit, however. But if the sport became too strict, that guy -- you know the guy that I'm talking about -- might not be able to express himself to the fullest. |
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Post by imec on Feb 19, 2010 19:38:55 GMT
Notice he didn't just pick on figure skating...
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Post by existentialcrisis on Feb 23, 2010 11:26:44 GMT
The floor routine in gymnastics is to music, and as k2 says, there is subjectivity in gymnastics, diving, etc. and we consider these sports. Any sport where a technique is the end in itself, rather than a means to finishing first, scoring goals, or enduring for a duration, etc., is going to require subjective judgement.
Though inevitably subjective, these sports follow objective guidelines. When I was watching the freestyle moguls competition, it was obvious who won, though it was very, very close.
I think people take "objectivity" too seriously. Subjectivity is often played off as a demon. This is why science students scoff at arts students.
Figure skating is an athletic competition. Skaters are competing to see who is the best. The only way to determine a winner is through subjective judging. If it wasn't possible to determine a winner, then it would all be rather pointless. How can an athletic competition be exluded from the privledged category of "sport"? We would have to agree that it is impossible to tell who did the best job, and give everyone an A for effort! I don't buy the argument that subjectivity is the problem. I think it has to do more with the artistic nature of the event....
... and the costumes are a bit much...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2010 11:39:10 GMT
It would be kind of interesting if they could simultaneously set up some sort of computer scanner during the routines that could measure exactly the perfection of the geometric figures and the precise fluidity of the execution, etc. I'll bet that the most 'perfect' skaters would not necessarily be the ones favored by either the judges or the public because of the human element. We don't want to see people skating like robots, because their emotions and expressions are an important part of the appreciation (or not) of the performance.
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Post by bjd on Feb 23, 2010 12:14:16 GMT
I haven't seen any of the competitions but in this weekend's paper, one of the skaters (maybe a Russian?) said that, with the new scoring system, the skaters spend so much time on flashy jumps and technically demanding things, that they don't have time and energy for the fluidity and grace that used to be considered important.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2010 12:41:40 GMT
Following on from the comment by K2, thinking of piano playing. It's not the most accurate technical playing that is appealing, it is when the pianist plays with feeling, that is.
Same with singing.
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Post by Kimby on Feb 23, 2010 19:56:39 GMT
I haven't seen any of the competitions but in this weekend's paper, one of the skaters (maybe a Russian?) said that, with the new scoring system, the skaters spend so much time on flashy jumps and technically demanding things, that they don't have time and energy for the fluidity and grace that used to be considered important. Actually I think it was the Russian, with his nose bent out of joint over taking silver instead of gold, who said that "anyone who doesn't have the quad, should not win" the competition. Apparently without regard to his own lack of fluidity and grace, and the fact that he stumbled a bit on a couple of his landings. It was explained that with the new scoring system, fancy footwork and spins rewards one as much as a single flashy quad jump. And IMO is much more fun/inspiring to watch. (I can't tell a quad from a triple anyway, not to mention a toe loop from a Salchow. I think I've figured out which one is the axel, though.) |
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