Abstract

Physical culture is a health and strength training movement that originated during the 19th century. This area of study has been neglected within the South African context. This was because the dominant view in South African academia, expressed by the physical educationist, Claude Smit, centred around an entrenched belief that physical culturists regarded strong muscles as the sole outcome of physical activity. Therefore, Smit argued, they only concerned themselves with the physical aspects of physiology and anatomy without taking into account any educational principles. Further, its main concern was with programmes of physical training, sold to the broader public, on the pretext that it had certain health benefits.¹ This study shows otherwise and that physical culture in circus, theatres and Eugen Sandow’s visit to South Africa was part of a (mostly invisible) web between pedagogy, entertainment and colonial prejudices.

摘要

体育是起源于19世纪的健康和力量训练运动。在南非范围内，这一研究领域被忽略了。这是因为体育学家克劳德·史密特（Claude Smit）表达了南非学术界的主流观点，即围绕一种根深蒂固的信念，即体育学家将强壮的肌肉视为体育活动的唯一结果。因此，史密斯认为，他们只关心生理学和解剖学的物理方面，而没有考虑任何教育原则。此外，它的主要关注点是体育锻炼计划，以其具有一定的健康益处为借口出售给广大公众。^1个 这项研究表明，马戏团，剧院和尤金·桑多（Eugen Sandow）访南非的体育文化是教育，娱乐和殖民偏见之间（大部分是看不见的）网络的一部分。