The Myth of Michael Jordan in Popular Culture

This book examines the life and career of Michael Jordan, one of the greatest athletes in the history of sports, asking how he transcended his sport to become a canonical myth in popular culture. Drawing on work in sport studies, cultural studies, sociology, history, business, and media, this book helps us to understand how myths are made in modern society and highlights the importance of myths in a 'post-truth' world. It unpacks the underlying 'monomythical' structure of the Jordan myth, including the universality of the 'hero's journey', and explores those features that are inherently American but that also carried Jordan to the status of a global superstar. This book traces the contours of his career and looks at how the intersection of commercial interests, media narratives, and supreme athletic talent, in a particular social, political, and historical context, generated a myth that continues to resonate today, long after the end of Jordan's playing career. Drawing on original research and adding new theoretical depth to our understanding of Michael Jordan's place in popular culture, this book is essential reading for anybody with an interest in the relationship between sport and wider society.

Tomasz Jachec is an Assistant Professor at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland. His work focuses on the landscape of American popular culture, including sport and comedy. He is a member of the Polish Association for American Studies (PAAS) and the European Association for American Studies (EAAS).

Introduction: Michael Jordan, the Myth, the Monomyth, and the Jordan Myth, 1. The Path of the Warrior: The Jordan Myth Takes Shape (1982-1991), 2. The King's Reign (1991-1998): The Jordan Myth Expands, 3. Basketball's "Beowulf" Puts on Armor One Last Time (2001-2003 and Beyond), 4. The Never-ending Myth: Post-1998 Retellings of the Jordan Myth, 5. The Four Functions of the Jordan Myth, 6. The Global Reach of the Jordan Myth, Conclusion