Hope and hard times
by Steve
Hello folks. I wrote this piece about Dusty Rhodes, the professional wrestler who died last week. I figured that I might as well share it here with you all.
Professional wrestling is a misunderstood and unappreciated art form. I’d been planning on writing something on that very subject and then Rhodes died, and it seemed like his career and persona encapsulated a lot of what I wanted to say on the matter.
I’m well aware that wrestling can be goofy, tacky, dull or even just plain offensive at times. But I also think this particularly weird subculture can be pretty astonishing too, in a whole variety of ways. Even when it is goofy/tacky/dull/offensive, there is often something interesting lingering under the surface. A pre-determined sport, by its very nature, ends up working on several narrative levels, playing with notions of reality and fiction, and when everything works is a complex, yet emotional spectacle.
I suppose I might elaborate on all that further down the line, or maybe not. But I think the piece linked to above articulates at least some of my thoughts, for what its worth.
Wait until next year 
An interesting piece, I must admit to having very mixed views about wrestling – I am intrigued by the the showmanship of the sport, but never liked the violence, although get why people watch and participate.
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It is a weird one. I’m not much of a fan of violence, but can find it compelling when I know two guys aren’t really setting out to kill each other, but are instead telling a story. I think the ongoing fascination I have is in the layers – the showmanship, the presentation of something that is real, the fact that it isn’t, what goes on behind the scenes etc.
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