A core text for first- and second-year religion and popular culture courses that focuses on examining and applying theories to the interactions between religion and popular culture using a cultural studies approach.

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

"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

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.

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.