I don't know where to find the research you're looking for, but I think it's a fascinating subject and it speaks to a theory I've been developing but don't know whether I'll ever seriously pursue in a thesis: That action-adventure films/series are often metaphoric of rutting rituals, with the male hero required to perform a brave show of masculinity (usually involving a fist-fight, even in a high-tech story), while he wins the female as his reward. That model is changing and there are variations, such as male-only versions where the male-to-male bonding and competition (sometimes both simultaneously) become ends in themselves, as satisfying as the actual rutting itself. Oh well, I went on too long. Basically, I think you could also think of the Native American potlatch rituals -- I can't remember what tribes but potlatch psychology is very interestingly described by Georges Bataille (crazy French writer, but intriguing), either in an article (possibly "The Solar Anus") or in his book _Erotism: Death & Sensuality_. Potlatch as you probably know is a type of ritual in which valuables are ceremonially destroyed or consumed in a massive town party where rules are temporarily suspended for the event. I believe sports have some, but certainly not all, the features of potlatch. -- Liz Camps Interactive Project Manager DraftDirect Worldwide voice 212-692-4167; fax 212-692-4274 ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.tcf.ua.edu/screensite