This article is part book review, part manifesto. It aims to act as a catalyst for changing the dominant modes of sports criticism; the way sport is perceived by the majority of its fans and by those who condemn it.

We all know someone who adores sport; who cherishes the adrenaline of competing and the drama of fandom. We also know someone who hates sport; for its contemptuous, rich superstars and its repetitive, never-ending nature. In essence, we all know sport. It’s omnipresent in society; a global phenomenon that is in your life through constant media reports and analysis, if not through active participation in a particular discipline. Thus, regardless of your personal opinions on sport, it cannot be denied its status as a vast area of public life.

The majority of writings on sport appear to be critiques of particular athletes, teams, leagues, or competitions. Indeed, there has...

Note: Those who are approaching this piece with an already formulated dislike or contempt for Kanye West would benefit from watching this two-part speech, either before or after they read this, which will undoubtedly show him in a different light to the one you are used to.

part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq3W-E782kc

part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQa5MoRGoGk

This article will attempt to detail the ways in which the mass media works extremely hard to consistently report on Kanye West in the most controversial and (more often) trivial manner. It will also seek to illustrate that this is done in order to actively discourage anyone other than dedicated music critics and fans from taking him, his ideas, and even his celebrated musical output seriously and, more importantly, of conducting a serious critique and dissection of the political, social, and economic messages of...