Religion and Popular Culture

Preface
Introduction
Images, Icons, and Identities
Intersections and Integration
Chapter Summaries
Useful Resources
- Print
- Online
1. Religion and Popular Culture
Defining a Religion
- The Cognitive Approach
- The Functional Approach
- Return to the Cognitive
- The "Lived Religion" Approach
- Issues of Gender, Race, and Class
- Applications and Interpretations
Defining Popular Culture
- Popular Culture Theorists
Religion and Popular Culture
- Religion in Popular Culture
- Popular Culture in Religion
- Popular Culture as Religion
- Religion and Popular Culture in Dialogue
Summary
Review Questions
Useful Resources
- Print
- Online
2. Marxist Approaches
Marxist Theory and Political Application
- Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong
- Antonio Gramsci and Hegemony
The Frankfurt School and Neo-Marxism
- Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer and the Culture Industry Thesis
- Walter Benjamin and Consumer Meaning-making
Applying Marxist Theory
- Selling Spirituality: Jeremy Carrette and Richard King
- Commodified Religion: Jeffery A. Smith and Hollywood
A Critique of Neo-Marxism: A Cultualist Position
- Paul Heelas
Summary
Review Questions
Useful Resources
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- Online
3. Culturalism
Raymond Williams
Stuart Hall
Culturalism and Religion: Encoding and Decoding
- Clifford Geertz
- Meredith McGuire
- Christopher Partridge
Applying Culturalism: Reading Zombies
- Vodou Zombies
- Hollywood Zombies
Applying Culturalism: Reading Vampires
- Milly Williamson and the Victorian Vampire
- The Twilight Series
- A Negotiated Reading of Vampires
Applying Culturalism in an Evangelical Christian Structure of Feeling
- Born Again
- Associations with Evil: Lynn Schofield Clark
- The Harry Potter Series
Summary
Review Questions
Useful Resources
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- Online
4. Performativity
Ritual Studies and Performance Theory
- Victoria Turner
- Ronald Grimes
- Catherine Bell
Ritual and Performance
Judith Butler and Bodies That Matter
Applying Performance Theory: From Madonna to Hockey
- Pop Icons: Madonna
- Pop Icons: Lady Gaga
- Sports
Summary
Review Questions
Useful Resources
- Print
- Video
- Online
5. Feminist Theories
Feminisms
- First Wave
- Second Wave
- Third Wave
- Representation
Applying Feminist Theory: From the Sacred Feminine to Girl Power
- Mary Magdalene and the Sacred Feminine: The Da Vinci Code
- Mythology, Girl Power, and Wonder Woman
Summary
Review Questions
Useful Resources
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- Video
- Online
6. Racism and Anti-racism
Race
- Racial Classification and the Slave Trade
- Franz Boas, Theodosius Dobzhansky, and M.F. Ashley-Montague
Paul Gilroy
- Nationalism, Fascism and Racism
- Anti-racism and Black Liberation
bell hooks
- White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy
- Representation and Identity Construction
Applying Anti-Racist Cultural Theory: Rap and Hip Hop
- Background
- Secular Music: Rap
- Holy Hip Hop
Summary
Review Questions
Useful Resources
- Print
- Video
- Audio
7. Orientalism
Edward Said
- The Orientalist Image and an Essentialist Identity
Islamophobia
Applying Orientalism: The Hollywood Terrorist and the Oriental Monk
- Aladdin and the Arab Ineptitude
- True Lies and the Dangerous Arab
- The Siege
Applying Orientalism: The Oriental Monk
- Kung Fu
- Kung Fu Panda and Broken Blossoms or the Yellow Man and the Girl
Applying Orientalism: -Reel Injuns-?
- Avatar
Challenging Orientalism: Multiculturalism
- Little Mosque on the Prairie
Challenging Orientalism: Visual Sovereignty
- Atanarjuat
Summary
Review Questions
Useful Resources
- Print
- Video
8. Subcultures and Post-subcultures
Dick Hebdige and the CCCS
- Sites of Resistance
Post-Subcultural Theory
- Sarah Thornton and the Subcultural Capital
- David Muggleton and the Rejection of Metanarratives
- Michel Maffesoli and Neo-tribalism
- Graham St John and "Carnivals of Protest"
(Post)-Subcultures and Religion
- Jennifer Porter, Edward Bailey, and Implicit Religion
Subcultural Theory Applied: Goth As Implicit Religion
- Amy Wilkins and Style
- Stan Cohen and Moral Panic
- Anna Powell and the Parareligious
- Julia Winden Fey and Cult/ure
Post-subcultural Theory Applied: Burning Man Festival
- Lee Gilmore and Burning Man Spirituality
- Steven T. Jones and Counterculture
- Burners Without Borders
Summary
Review Questions
Useful Resources
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- Online
9. Digital Media and Hyper-real Religion
Media Studies
- Marshall McLuhan
- Neil Postman
Digital Media
- Andrea L. Press and Bruce A. Williams: Digital Options and Interactions
- Henry Jenkins: Convergence and Collective Intelligence
- Rachel Wagner and the Digitally Sacred?
Hyper-realism
- Jean Baudrillard and Simulation
- Umberto Eco and the "Absolute Fake"
- Adam Possamai and Postmodern Religion
Applying Media Studies: Virtual Christianity in Second Life
- Phylis Johnson and Virtual Life
- Sher Salmson and a Virtual Church
Applying Media Studies: Hyper-real Religion in World of Warcraft
- Stef Aupers and Hyper-real Religion
- Lauren Bernauer and Christian Gaming
Summary
Review Questions
Useful Resources
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- Online
Conclusion: Multiple Readings of Avatar
Marxist or Neo-Marxist Theories
Culturalism
Performativity
Feminist Theories
Race and Racism
Orientalism
Subcultures and Post-Subcultures
Digital Media
Useful Resources
- Print
Glossary
References
Index

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Chris Klassen is assistant professor of religion and culture at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Special Features

• A cultural studies approach encourages students to consider the role religion plays in creating and responding to popular culture.
• Focuses on key theorists in both religious studies and popular culture studies to explore the interactions between the two areas.
• Combines theory with practical case studies ensuring students learn how to apply theories to actual examples from popular culture.
• Canadian examples contribute to a relevant discussion on religion and popular culture in this country.