Table of Contents

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
- Print
- 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
- Print
- 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
- Print
- 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
- Print
- 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
- Print
- 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

About the Author

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

Reviews

"A very clearly written, readable, and superbly organized introductory text that reflects appreciation of complexity, critical thinking, and contemporary issues."
--Wynne Jordan, Saint Mary's University