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ChristotainmentSelling Jesus through Popular Cultureby Shirley R. Steinberg, Joe L. Kincheloe Feb 9, 2009
DescriptionFor more than two thousand years Christian expansion and proselytizing was couched in terms of “defending the faith.” Until recently in the United States, much of that defense came in the form of reactions against the liberal (left, Satanic, Communist) influences channeled through big-corporate media such as popular music, Hollywood movies, and network and cable television. But the election of Ronald Reagan as a Hollywood President introduced Christian America to the tools of advertising and multimedia appeals to children and youth to win new believers to God’s armies. Christotainment examines how Christian fundamentalism has realigned its armies to combat threats against it by employing the forces it once considered its chief enemies: the entertainment media, including movies, television, music, cartoons, theme parks, video games, and books. Invited contributors discuss the critical theoretical frameworks of top-selling devices within Christian pop culture and the appeal to masses of American souls through the blessed marriage of corporatism and the quest for pleasure. Reviews“Christotainment is a thoroughly researched and highly disturbing account of the way fundamentalist Christian groups spread their doctrines using American media and popular culture. The book covers everything from the theocratic nationalism found in NASCAR and the anti-Semitism and sadomasochism permeating Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of Christ” to what we might describe as the “Christianization” of toys, Rock ‘n Roll and Punk Rock. One cannot help but be alarmed by the book’s description of the increasingly widespread use of media to disseminate the social, cultural and political beliefs of various ultra-conservative religious organizations in America. The subtext of this superb book is that the power of the fundamentalist Christian media empires and the popularity of Christotainment pose a serious threat to American democratic institutions.” “Shoppertainment...retailtainment...edutainment...and now Christotainment! Here is a revealing and provocative look at the extent to which consumer culture has penetrated Christianity including NASCAR Nation, The Passion of Christ, Veggie Tales, Christotoys, and even Christian rock. An eye opener for anyone who harbors any doubt about the full extent of the commodification of our lives.”
Selling TerritoryWorld |
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