Is the Super Bowl stupid?

Connor Wood writes that

all culture – not just the United States – requires regular suspension of disbelief, and acceptance of absurdity, in order to survive.

By taking part in the absurd ritual of the Super Bowl, Americans agree to behave as if we were all characters in this strange, intangible, infuriating, fascinating farce called “the United States.”

What matters is that we agree to take part in the ritual, whatever it is, together. And the ritual’s rules need to be arbitrary – made up by humans – or it won’t work. We participants have to consent to participate, you see – not be forced into it.

If we want the Culture Wars to continue raging – if we want our national culture to be positively drenched in entertaining, unwinnable conflict – then by all means, we should continue fanning the flames of derision, showing off our superiority, disdaining the absurdities of the groups we don’t want to identify with.

Instead of rejecting everything crass or nonsensical or uncool about the majority culture, either jump in and participate in their world or, for God’s sake, be polite about ignoring it. Don’t snark proudly about how superior you are to them.

Is the Super Bowl stupid? Sure. There’s too much money in it, the game usually isn’t a very good matchup, and sports networks hype it up way too much. I agree that it’s silly. But unlike the Holden Caulfields of the world, I want us to recognize the value of the absurd. Let’s at least respect those last few remaining rituals that give Americans the chance to all be American – in all our ridiculousness – together. Because athletics is ritual. It’s subjunctive play. And like life, sports are a brotherhood of the absurd. Do you have to play along? No. But you might miss out on something when you don’t. And you’re certainly no better – no more intellectually or morally upright – than those of us who do.