Questions for Discussion

  1. How does Gay Talese create a picture of Joe DiMaggio at loose ends that nevertheless suggests his heroism?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - The Silent Season of a Hero - Questions for Discussion: How does Gay Talese create a picture of Joe DiMaggio at loose ends that nevertheless suggests his heroism?
  2. What does Talese tell us about the position of sports in American popular culture?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - The Silent Season of a Hero - Questions for Discussion: What does Talese tell us about the position of sports in American popular culture?
  3. Talese describes DiMaggio as “a kind of male Garbo,” referring to the legendary, reclusive film star Greta Garbo (para. 85). The comparison suggests that DiMaggio’s detachment was a masculine ideal. Does this ideal still resonate? How does it square with the image of today’s superstar athletes? Does our media-crazy era demand more engagement from our heroes? Are we still capable of being “moved by the mystique” (para. 85)?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - The Silent Season of a Hero - Questions for Discussion: Talese describes DiMaggio as “a kind of male Garbo,” referring to the legendary, reclusive film star Greta Garbo (para. 85). The comparison suggests that DiMaggio’s detachment was a masculine ideal. Does this ideal still resonate? How does it square with the image of today’s superstar athletes? Does our media-crazy era demand more engagement from our heroes? Are we still capable of being “moved by the mystique” (para. 85)?
  4. Talese has said that his work is a highly personal response to the world as an Italian American outsider. What evidence do you find that it is an outsider’s voice? How does the authorial voice of an outsider add nuance to the profile of Joe DiMaggio?

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - The Silent Season of a Hero - Questions for Discussion: Talese has said that his work is a highly personal response to the world as an Italian American outsider. What evidence do you find that it is an outsider’s voice? How does the authorial voice of an outsider add nuance to the profile of Joe DiMaggio?
  5. Why is spring the silent season? Consider the title from the perspective of fishing and baseball.

    Question

    WvD/qlpt4lzzWb4zUwGWBQhKPjtDvqj8sRamu7J1DAyqPwYZ7lQ7Wr5WbEA=
    Chapter 9 - The Silent Season of a Hero - Questions for Discussion: Why is spring the silent season? Consider the title from the perspective of fishing and baseball.