CSUEB lecture on Bruce Lee and physical prowess May 23

• May 18, 2011 4:00pm

Robert Rinehart, associate professor in the sport and leisure studies department at University of Waikato, New Zealand, will present his paper, "Physical Prowess, Body, and National Identity: The Bruce Lee Story," on Monday, May 23 at 3pm in the Biella Room of the Cal State East Bay library.

Arguably one of the most famous iconic Chinese figures, martial artist and philosopher Bruce Lee had risen to prominence in the early 1970s through four movies. Until his death in 1973, Lee spread his philosophy of martial arts and physical prowess in various writings, interviews, and, of course, the four films. His influence on the perception of Chinese physical prowess extended beyond ethnic Chinese, as his movies had a huge following outside Asia. Through content analysis of his four movies, The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon, and Enter the Dragon, Rinehart's paper examines how Lee's movies portrayed a new conception of the body and physical prowess to Chinese, but also to North American audiences.

Rinehart has published papers on extreme/action sport, qualitative research methods, and sport history. He was also president of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport 2009-2010.

Event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Professor Becky Beal at 510.885.3036 or becky.beal@csueastbay.edu.

KL