스포츠인류학의 학문적 정체성에 대한 논의

Abstract

Various studies have been actively carried out in the name of anthropology of sport(AS hereafter). However, when it comes to the object and the method of the research related to the identity of AS, a closer examination is necessary. Through this, this paper aims to search for the ways to put the study on AS in place as an established area of study. Therefore, this study has discussed the academic identity focused on the essence of AS. Although we consider that AS is closely related to the development of human history and understand sport from the viewpoint of cultural anthropology, the study on AS apart from the realm of the anthropology, which is its root discipline, is considered dubious as a research of AS, although it can be acknowledged as a study on sport. Therefore, AS should have the pertinent anthropological system which has its compatibility with sport in order that AS is included in a category of study of sport. Also, in order that AS becomes a study on cultural anthropology, it should be distinguished from the studies that don't follow the anthropological research methodologies. However, this distinction has not been strictly made because of the internal reason of the discipline, which is the ambiguity of an object and method of research and the external reason of the discipline, which is the pursuit of anthropological value. Now, for the identity of Korean AS, it's the right time to understand the essence of AS and find the most appropriate object and method of research to us through the history of humankind.