Importance Of Mascots In Doyle’s “A Note On Mascots”

From reading Doyle’s “A Note on Mascots” he is seen trying to explain to his readers that the reason Mascots are important to us is because we feel attached to them. He continues to elaborate his point by including major reasons why we feel this way, like mascots have strong symbolism, we miss those animals in the flesh, and the last reason is that they represent unity. Through these examples he helps his readers fully understand mascots importance. One reason mascots are seen as important is that they have strong symbolism.

We as people, look to animals to represent everything we find in ourselves such as strength, grace, and agility. This is the reason why Doyle explains why we have mascots of animals from “Canids, felids, ruminants, mustelids to denizens”. These animals are relatable since they have multiple qualities that we share like zeal, ferociousness, cleverness or even laziness. Therefore, teams and clubs use them as symbols, because they illustrate what we are or what we want to be like. This is how we get the term “spirit animal” because they represent us on such a deep level. Their symbolism creates a link that connects us to them and vice versa which is unique and one of a kind. Mascots are also seen as significant because of what they remind people of. The animals that are used for mascots aren’t necessarily seen every day or at all. So, since they aren’t seen often, seeing them represented reminds us in a sense of what once was. Even if certain animals don’t exist those ones help encourage imagination of what could be like dragons or unicorns. Doyle says, “The vast majority of us will never see a cougar or a wolverine, not to mention a boll weevil, but even wearing one on a shirt, connects us somehow to what we used to be with animals”.

Long ago there was peace, every person and animal had a place in the environment so there was balance. Now more than ever this is a big deal because of the extinction of multiple animal species and destruction of habitats. With mascots set in place some animals will never truly die as their memory and image stays with us forever. The last point Doyle explains to his readers of why mascots are so valuable is how they bring people together. Most people have likely been exposed to mascots for a long time. He recalls his childhood and says “I remember loving as a child, in the dim dewy days when I was two or three years old and the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame, who were on television everyday, it seemed, in our bustling brick Irish Catholic house”. What he’s saying is that he remembers even when he was young how mascots were in I his life.

Most people have likely been exposed to mascots for a long time just like him. For example, we’ve seen them with pro sport teams or just when we attended school pep rallies. With all these memories comes the realization that everyone always came together to support that mascot because of what it represented. That support of a team or a school created a feeling of family and unity as people bonded. The unity is what’s special and what gives the mascot so much power and importance. So, through many good examples Doyle explains to his readers the importance and the reason why Mascots are important. These huge furry energetic animals aren’t just costumes but, something much bigger. They are representation of unity, memories, and symbols that make people feel good. Once people fully recognize their significance, only then can they fully appreciate these lovable animals.

Bibliography:

1. Doyle, B. (2014). Children & Other Wild Animals.
2. J., X., M., D., E., J., & Kuhl, E. (2016). The Bedford Reader.