Understanding Media and Religion

Presentation to the Religious Communication Congress 2010

Chicago, April 7, 2010

Stewart M. HooverNabil Echchaibi

Center for Media, Religion, and CultureUniversity of Colorado at Boulder, USA

Workshop Schedule

I. Overview of Media and Religion Research

II.Islam and the MediaIII.Comparing Christian and Muslim

Media

Themes of the day:

Religion persistsMedia frame and define religion

Media and religion convergeReligion in popular culture

Religious authority and the “common culture”

Globalization Media and global conflict

Religion “mediatized”

Mediation vs Mediatization

• All religions are mediated

• Mediatization means something new and different is produced through interaction with modern media

Religious Change

• The decline of institutions and—more importantly—of institutional authority

• The rise of the individual quest in matters of faith—and “spirituality”

Media Change

• Media are autonomous• Media are diversified• Media are concentrated• Media increasingly function to satisfy

religious “demand”

The Digital Revolution

• Empowers the “quest,” further undermines traditions and institutions

– Fluid– Protean– Interactive– User-generated– “Pull” rather than “push”– New communities and networks– Still evolving

Stars and Spiritualities

Religion vs “The Religious”

• “The Religious” as aesthetic practice– about consumption, tastes, sensibilities

Religious Authority Contested

• Lose control over their own symbols

Religious Authority Contested

• Lose control over their own symbols

• Authority becomes relativized within a “market-place of symbols”

Religious Authority Contested

• Lose control over their own symbols

• Authority relativized within a “market-place of symbols”

• Authority relativized by a multiplicity of authorities

Religious Authority Contested

• Lose control over their own symbols

• Authority relativized within a “market-place of symbols”

• Authority relativized by a multiplicity of authorities—and by themselves

Implicit, informal, banal religion flourishes

• Ex: “New Age Rituals”

Globalization

• Religious transnationalism

• Emerging globalized popular cultures

New Forms and Terms of Public Discourse

“The 9/12 Project”9 “principles” and 12 “values

1. America Is Good2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday4. The family is sacred5. If you break the law you pay the penalty

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness but there is no guarantee of equal results7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with whom I want to8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion9. The government works for me I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

“The 9/12 Project”9 “principles” and 12 “values

1. honesty2. reverence3. hope4. thrift5. humility6. charity

“The 9/12 Project”9 “principles” and 12 “values

7. sincerity8. moderation9. hard work10. courage11. personal responsibility12. gratitude

• Representations• YouTube - My Big Fat Greek Wedding - Now You Are Family (2)

• Jesus Camp Trailer (2)

• YouTube - Madonna Like a Prayer (2)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-iWrIBaq3Ys

• Realism• 7th Heaven Brave New World (Episode Clip) at TV.com (2)

• YouTube - The Cross and The Switchblade 1 (2)

• YouTube - Left Behind (The Movie) Part 01 of 11 (2)

Evangelical Popular CultureMuslim Media Cultures

CategoriesFunctions

Relativism and AuthenticityMultiple “modernities”

Evangelical Popular Culture

Muslim Media Cultures

Categories

• Genres– Televised Church– Television ministries– Online ministries– Online “me-casting”

• Structures– Independent– Institutionally (church) based

• Charismatic leadership

Functions

Relativism and Authenticity

Multiple “Modernities”