Sociology of Bridge

Hello there, my name is Kevin Judge and I am a PhD Student researching the game of Bridge through the lifecourse of its players, at the University of Stirling, Scotland. The PhD research is a collaborative partnership between the University of Stirling and EBED (English Bridge Education and Development), with contributions from IBU (Irish Bridge Union), NIBU (Northern Irish Bridge Union), SBU (Scottish Bridge Union), and WBU (Welsh Bridge Union). This research represents a fantastic opportunity to understand communities at play, from both historical and contemporary perspectives. The objective of this PhD is to develop a Sociology of Bridge and contribute to the sustainability of the game.

The Ethical Game of Bridge

July 12, 2019July 12, 2019 by KJudge

The club is experiencing another week with only three players and, despite the short numbers, we play beyond the two hour session. It always seems like we will play one more game, and it feels like I hardly ever look up to the glass of the door to see if anyone else is coming. We … Continue reading The Ethical Game of Bridge

Juggling Roles with our Lovely Cards

July 4, 2019July 12, 2019 by KJudge

I read a passage, the other day, about celebrating the writing of culture, with the sentence that stuck in my mind “made the familiar strange, the exotic quotidian” (Clifford & Marcus 2010: 2). Transforming the everyday, the humdrum, into something interesting; ‘else’ing something to a broader, perhaps even new audience, and re-presenting it with new … Continue reading Juggling Roles with our Lovely Cards

“Say Something… Pyramids!”

June 19, 2019July 12, 2019 by KJudge

It is another quiet evening at the Bridge club. The move from Monday to Tuesday has not benefited the club at all. It is disappointing to think of all the effort and hard work that has gone into organising lessons and coordinating events. To think the long, large room hosted an exhibition match at the … Continue reading “Say Something… Pyramids!”

“Sorry to be a Spoilsport…”

June 10, 2019July 12, 2019 by KJudge

I had been absent from the club for a little over a month. This was not intentional. It was a combination of appointments and commitments that coincided with the club changing nights for play. As usual I am running a little late, however I find myself there on time but alone. There are no regulars … Continue reading “Sorry to be a Spoilsport…”

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