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Running on Air : Radio and the Experience of Drama in the Swedish ‘Gunder Hägg mania’ of 1941–45

Lundberg, Björn LU orcid (2021) In Media History 27(4). p.510-524
Abstract
During World War II, middle-distance runner Gunder Hägg set 15 world records and became a media sport star of unprecedented magnitude in Sweden. This article turns attention to the role of radio broadcasts in the formation of Swedish “Hägg mania” 1941–45. When analyzed in terms of blindness, liveness and co-presence, radio broadcasts from this era reveal that radio announcers actively engaged with audiences to solidify a sense of liveness and co-presence that established moments of suspense and ritualized drama. The concept of dimensional listening is used to explain how radio as a ‘blind’ medium could evoke forceful imagery, while the audiences’ use of stop-watches to time running events provides an example of how broadcasters encouraged... (More)
During World War II, middle-distance runner Gunder Hägg set 15 world records and became a media sport star of unprecedented magnitude in Sweden. This article turns attention to the role of radio broadcasts in the formation of Swedish “Hägg mania” 1941–45. When analyzed in terms of blindness, liveness and co-presence, radio broadcasts from this era reveal that radio announcers actively engaged with audiences to solidify a sense of liveness and co-presence that established moments of suspense and ritualized drama. The concept of dimensional listening is used to explain how radio as a ‘blind’ medium could evoke forceful imagery, while the audiences’ use of stop-watches to time running events provides an example of how broadcasters encouraged audience interactivity, reinforcing the experience of simultaneity and national community. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
co-presence, radio history, history of sport, running, Media history
in
Media History
volume
27
issue
4
pages
510 - 524
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:85097608919
ISSN
1469-9729
DOI
10.1080/13688804.2020.1858770
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2961944e-2029-4c2d-954f-bf3defae70c6
date added to LUP
2020-10-24 15:49:33
date last changed
2022-04-19 01:21:32
@article{2961944e-2029-4c2d-954f-bf3defae70c6,
  abstract     = {{During World War II, middle-distance runner Gunder Hägg set 15 world records and became a media sport star of unprecedented magnitude in Sweden. This article turns attention to the role of radio broadcasts in the formation of Swedish “Hägg mania” 1941–45. When analyzed in terms of blindness, liveness and co-presence, radio broadcasts from this era reveal that radio announcers actively engaged with audiences to solidify a sense of liveness and co-presence that established moments of suspense and ritualized drama. The concept of dimensional listening is used to explain how radio as a ‘blind’ medium could evoke forceful imagery, while the audiences’ use of stop-watches to time running events provides an example of how broadcasters encouraged audience interactivity, reinforcing the experience of simultaneity and national community.}},
  author       = {{Lundberg, Björn}},
  issn         = {{1469-9729}},
  keywords     = {{co-presence; radio history; history of sport; running; Media history}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{510--524}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Media History}},
  title        = {{Running on Air : Radio and the Experience of Drama in the Swedish ‘Gunder Hägg mania’ of 1941–45}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13688804.2020.1858770}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13688804.2020.1858770}},
  volume       = {{27}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}