Course Description: meaning of religion in the American religious landscape. Tr pious. By examining numerous sources, topics, and dilemmas, from represent the dominant patterns in thinking about the popular and the popular culture in dialogue popular culture IN religion, th it all mean? Throughout the semester, this courses promises to answer How do we assess combinations of the sacred and the secular? What does questions: What is popular culture? What role is religion playing Ame over faith and the supernatural, yet religion remains and permeates “death of God.” In In recent decades, many have predicted the demise of religion and the ek ese questions by investigating four

rican society, particularly fandom to religious games to Madonna, we’ll be investigating the Religion 267 Fall 2017

deed, many seem to embrace science and rationality Religion and Popular

. These themes structure the course and popular culture AS religion Culture popular culture. This raises a number of Dr. Lynn S. Neal OH: Wed. & Fri. 11 accordingly. or on weekends, please plan I do not check email after 5pm [email protected]

themes

— - 12 religion IN popular culture,

, and religion and

Course Texts: **Please bring assigned readings to each class** Other readings available via Sakai Culture in America, Revised Edition Bruce Forbes &

in it? Why? Jeffrey Star

Mahan, eds., from the world of real thing, but, as ~David Chidester we already know authenticity is at Coca

popular culture. the real thing.” “At work and at [F&M] Religion is the Religion and Popular play, human religion and advertising, American stake in -

Cola is also

Advice for Religion 267

wearing a The course requirements provide you with an opportunity to explore topics

, and issues in more depth and are designed to help you realize the course

objectives. public To successfully accomplish the course objectives, remember to work hard, ask for clarification when necessary, and keep the following information in mind. *All assignments must be completed in accordance with the Wake Forest Honor Code. Failure to abide by the rules of this community will result in failure of the course. *If you have a learning disability that requires an accommodation , please controversial gown in 2015. contact the Learning Assistance Center (758-5929) and provide me with the appropriate form as soon as possible. *The Writing Center is a valuable resource for your papers. *Take advantage of office hours! I’m happy to meet and talk with you. Kimberly Castillo, Miss Dominican Re

Course Objectives: By the end of the semester…

1. You will be able to describe and evaluate the dominant patterns that characterize the study of religion and popular culture.

2. You will be able to interpret various forms of religious popular culture utilizing different methodological approaches (material culture, authorial, textual, ethnographic) and various sources (fan sites, interviews, material culture, media, etc.).

3. You will be able to evaluate the complicated relationship between religion and popular culture by conducting sophisticated research that utilizes analytical and synthetic skills, as well as research triangulation. Course Objective: Assessment 4. You will be able to identify, utilize, and Objective 1 Skills Projects 1-3 articulate the skills of a religion and Participation & Professionalism popular culture researcher. Objective 2 Research Reports Skills Projects 1-3 Participation & Professionalism 5. You will be able to help build interesting Objective 3 Final Project discussions that push beyond the surface Objective 4 Skills and Final Projects by sharing the results of your reading and Research Reports research with others, articulating your Research Annotation/Worksheet ideas and listening to others, as well as Objective 5 Participation & Professionalism asking questions of yourself and your Research Reports classmates. Participation Log

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“You never find time for anything. You must make it.” ~Charles Buxton

Requirements for the Course:

Participation & Professionalism (P&P) (15%). Professionalism: Attendance & Sick Days: The WF Bulletin Attendance at and active contributions to each class is states that students are “expected to attend classes regularly expected. Studies show that talking about your ideas and punctually.” As with a job, attendance is the expected makes you smarter, and discussing issues and hearing norm. However, occasions of illness or ‘other events’ can at varying perspectives broadens your thinking and helps times prevent you from attending. Thus, you are allowed two sharpen your analytical skills. Speaking and sharing ideas “sick days” over the course of the semester. More than 2 sick with each other is a vital part of learning. It also helps you days will lower your P&P grade, and a significant number of cultivate a variety of professional skills that are important absences will result in a failing grade for the course. in the workplace—listening and responding to others, Learning & Technology: Studies show that we learn better expressing your ideas, discussing areas of agreement and taking notes by hand, rather than on computers. Studies also disagreement, empathizing with others, etc. show that computers in class, especially when not used Expectations: You enter the class with a “C” for appropriately, distract classmates. However, we also live in a participation. You can earn a higher participation grade by digital age and computers give us access to all kinds of enriching each class with your research, questions, and information. Given this tension, please be thoughtful about ideas. To demystify this process I have created a your use of technology. We will be using technology at various Participation & Professionalism Rubric (available on times in the class to enhance our learning. However, when we Sakai) that outlines expectations. are not using computers/phones/tablets, please put them away so that you do not distract your classmates and so that To accommodate different positions on the you can focus on the discussion. introvert/extrovert spectrum please be thoughtful about your participation and consider different ways to enrich Participation Log (5%) Quality discussions and participation our conversations. Keep in mind that disagreement is do not occur naturally; rather, we must intentionally build expected in class, especially in a class about religion. We meaningful discussions and cultivate our participation skills. must learn how to talk with each other to enhance our To do this, I have created a weekly Participation and learning and this includes disagreement. Use disagreement Professionalism Log for you to complete that asks you to constructively and respectfully. You can say: “You made a reflect on and strategize about your participation in a good point, but I disagree because…” or “I respect your sustained way. We will also be analyzing and reflecting on our view, but it seems to overlook…” class discussions periodically as a way to highlight strategies, challenges, goals, and progress. Detailed guidelines for this Professionalism: Timeliness and Class Conduct: To assignment are on Sakai. enhance your collective learning and acquisition of professional skills, you are expected to be on time (3 **The name quiz is part of your P&P grade. Successfully tardies=1 absence) and to avoid disrupting class by leaving identify at least two thirds of your classmates to earn credit! to get a drink, take a phone call, visit the restroom, etc. These actions disrupt and distract our learning community Course Grade Scale: A (100-93), A- (92-90), B+ (89-88), B and will lower your overall P&P grade. (87-83), B- (82-80), C+ (79-78), C (77-73), C- (72-70), D (68- 65), F (64-0). *I do not round up final grades.

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Research Reports (RR) (15%): To receive credit for your RRs, I have designed a series of research reports that ask you to you must attend the class in examine a variety of web-based which it is due AND turn it in sources and to think about them at the END of the class in in relationship to the assigned which we discuss the reading and questions about what assigned topic. If you do not it means to be a religion attend class, regardless of the researcher. For example, you may be asked to watch a Star Trek reason (illness, travel, etc.), episode, research fan responses to then you cannot receive credit Star Trek, and answer questions for an RR. related to these sources. Your task is to complete each RR as directed. Grading: There are regular NOTE: Even if you opportunities to complete RRs over choose not to do a Purpose: (1) To engage the course the course of the semester. RRs will material in analytical and synthetic be graded based on the number specific RR, you ways, (2) To improve your that you successfully complete. should look at the research skills, (3) To improve you sources listed and skills in assessing various types of Grading: review the questions 15 RRs over 13 weeks=100 sources, (4) To build more asked as these will interesting and complex in-class 14 RRs over 12 weeks=95 discussions. 13 RRs over 11 weeks=90 provide a basis for our 11 RRs over 10 weeks=80 discussion. Logistics: RRs will be posted on 9 RRs over 10 weeks=70 Sakai at least two days prior to 8 RRs over 9 weeks=65 **Printers fail, so if their due date. RRs should be you attend class, but typed, single-spaced, with 1 inch are unable to print To receive full credit for your RRs, margins, and they should show your RR, you may evidence of having completed all your responses should of the assigned tasks and demonstrate thorough email it to me twice answering all of the questions in a engagement with research and over the course of the thorough and thoughtful manner. questions. Your answers should be semester. **One sentence answers or specific, thought out, and go minimal engagement with the RRs beyond what is obvious. will result in partial or no credit for the particular RR in question.**

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Three Skills Papers: NOTE: If you want to learn a skill other than writing, such as making a Purpose: The skills papers are video, designing a poster, or creating focused assignments designed as a an exhibit as a way to fulfill a skills way for you to think about both paper, please come discuss it with your approach to the material and me. the kind of source with which you are working. Each skills paper asks Resources and specific you to utilize a different approach directions for each project (audience, material culture, text) in your analysis of primary source can be found on Sakai. material. At the same time, each skills paper also focuses your Final Project: 20% Research Annotation: attention on a different kind of primary source (fan sites, objects, Assignment: Select and conduct To help you hone your tv/film). Gaining awareness of both primary source-based research on a research skills, each paper your approach and your source topic related to religion and popular asks you to complete an material will enhance your analytical culture utilizing at least two of the accompanying annotation skills and culminate in the final approaches we have discussed this assignment. These project. semester. Utilizing multiple annotations ask you to approaches in your paper will help reflect on your research you construct a stronger, more choices so you might better nuanced argument. Your topic can assess your own work. For

come from any of the patterns— example, you will be asked popular culture in religion, religion in to use footnotes to answer a popular culture, popular culture as series of questions about religion, popular culture and religion your thesis, use of sources, in dialogue—we have discussed over etc. Further, to aid you in

the semester. Your topic may be your final project, I have Skills Project 1—15% Using an something we have discussed in outlined a series of research class, or a topic that you have steps for you to complete. Audience-Focused Approach. examined in a previous project, or it Completion of these Due via email by 5pm on could be something completely new. processes will be factored Monday 9/18. into your grade for each Purpose: (1) To improve your project. Skills Project 2—15% Using an research skills, (2) To utilize research Object-Focused Approach. Due triangulation (the use of different via email by 5pm on sources and methods), (3) To construct a sophisticated and Wednesday 10/11. sustained argument. Skills Project 3—15% Using a More detailed instructions for Text-Based Approach. Due via the final project are posted on email by 5pm on Monday Sakai. 11/6.

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Friday 9/8 Finding Meaning in the Wednesday 8/30 Welcome! Stars (and the Small Screen) POPULAR CULTURE IN Class Question: What is this class Class Question: Do people make RELIGION: RELIGION AND about and how can we make it religion? How? Why? MATERIAL OBJECTS successful? RR#3 Syllabus Viewing Assignment: “Trekkies” Wednesday 9/20 Toys that F&M: Introduction SAKAI: Jenkins, “Star Trek Rerun, Teach Class Question: What do SAKAI: Lynch, ch. 2 pgs. 20-33 Reread, Rewritten” games and toys teach us about **NAME QUIZ religion? RR#6 POPULAR CULTURE AS SAKAI: Bado-Fralick and Sachs RELIGION: PEOPLE CREATING Norris, “Let the Games Begin,” RELIGION IN THE 21ST and McDannell, “Interpreting Things” CENTURY Friday 9/22 Christian T-shirts?

Class Question: What makes a T- Friday 9/1 What is religion, shirt Christian? anyway? RR#7 Class Question: What is religion in Wednesday 9/13 Sports as Religion SAKAI: McDannell, “Christian the 21st century? Class Question: Are sports a religion, Retailing,” and Grazian, RR#1 religious, or something else? “Demystifying Authenticity in SAKAI: Lynch, Ch. 8, and Clark, RR#4 the Sociology of Culture” “Religion, Twice Removed” SAKAI: Taylor, “Surfing into

Spirituality and a New, Acquatic Wednesday 9/27 Islam & Barbie Nature Religion” Class Question: How did Barbie F&M: Ch. 14 “The ‘Godding Up’ of become Muslim and what does it American Sports” mean? RR#9 Friday 9/15 Celebrity Worship SAKAI: Yaqin, “Islamic Barbie” Class Question: Are celebrities

religious figures? Friday 9/29 Mipsterz Wednesday 9/6 Star Trek & RR#5 Class Question: What role does Religion SAKAI: Rojek, “Celebrity and fashion play in religion and Class Question: What are our Religion” religious identity? assumptions about religion? Why? F&M: Ch. 15 “Celebrity Worship as RR#8 RR#2 Parareligion” Viewing Assignment: Viewing Assignment: Star Trek “Somewhere in America episode (the original series) Monday 9/18 Skills Paper #1 due #Mipsterz” F&M: Ch. 11 “It’s About Faith in via email by 5pm. F&M: Ch. 7 “Mipsterz”

Our Future”

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Wednesday 10/4 Public Shrines RELIGION IN POPULAR Wednesday 11/1 Stereotypes & and Mourning Objects CULTURE: REPRESENTING THE TV Class Question: How do we think SACRED ON SCREEN Class Question: How is Islam about public rituals of mourning? portrayed on television and why? RR#10 Wednesday 10/18 Interpreting RR#16 SAKAI: “Memorializing Tragic Popular Culture Texts Viewing Assignment: Select one: Death,” and Taylor, “Dancing with Class Question: How do we interpret *NCIS, “Grace Period” Diana” popular culture texts? *Bones, “The Man in the SUV”

RR#12 *Criminal Minds, “Lessons SAKAI: Lynch: Ch. 7 Learned” SAKAI: Hussain, “The Fire Next Friday 10/20 From the Dalai Lama Time,” Dyer, “The Role of to Kung Fu Panda Stereotypes,” and Hall, Class Question: How is the “Asian “Stereotyping as a Signifying monk” depicted in popular culture? Practice” RR#13 Friday 11/3 The Power of F&M: Ch. 2 “The Oriental Monk in Popular Culture Thursday 10/5 Screening and American Popular Culture” Class Question: Can television Panel Discussion of “Love the challenge stereotypes? Sinner” Wednesday 10/25 Humor, Satire, RR#17 Details Forthcoming and Blasphemy Viewing Assignment: Select one Class Question: How do we interpret * Episode of “All-American Friday 10/6 Memorialization religion in satire? Muslim” (youtube) Class Question: What does it mean RR #14 * Episode of Quantico (Season 1) to collect and study objects? Viewing Assignment: Select one SAKAI: Gitlin, “Primetime Guest Speaker: Dr. Adam Ware Southpark episode: Ideology” RR#11 * “All About Mormons”

SAKAI: Gosden & Marshall, “The * “Trapped in the Closet” Monday 11/6 Skills Paper #3 Cultural Biography of Objects” * “Red Hot Catholic Love” Due by 5pm via email SAKAI: Koepsell, “They Satirized My Wednesday 10/11 To be Prophet” and Feltmate, “Sacred determined. Centers” RELIGION AND POPULAR CULTURE IN DIALOGUE: Friday 10/27 Crime, the Law, and Wednesday 10/11 Skills Paper #2 Religion FINAL CASE STUDIES AND due via email by 5pm. Class Question: How do we interpret REFLECTIONS religion in crime dramas? Friday 10/13 NO CLASS, FALL RR#15 Wednesday 11/8 What about BREAK Viewing Assignment: Select one Authorial Intent?

* L&O: SVU “Charisma” Class Question: What is the * L&O “Apocrypha” relationship between an artist * L&O “God Bless the Child” and their creation? SAKAI: Siegler, “Is God Still in the RR#18 Box?” SAKAI: Lynch: Ch. 6

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9/8 Name Quiz

Key Dates for the 9/18 Skills Paper 1 due by Semester Wednesday 11/29 Course Wrap 5pm via email Up Class Question: What are the most 10/5 Screening and Panel important things you’ve learned Discussion of “Love the this semester? Sinner” documentary **Please bring your computers to 10/11 Skills Paper 2 due by class! 5pm via email 11/6 Skills Paper 3 due by Friday 12/1 Final Paper Work Day Please bring your computers to 5pm via email class. We will spend class time 11/10 Final Paper Research discussing your projects, as well as Plan due at the start of features of a great presentation. class Friday 11/10 The Madonna of **Final Paper outline due at the 11/17 Final Paper Research Popular Culture: Religion, start of class. Summary due at the start Symbols, and Imagery Class Question: How and why does Wednesday 12/6 and Friday 12/8 of class Madonna use religion? Research Presentations 12/1 Final Paper Outline RR#19 Please come prepared to give a due at the start of class Viewing Assignment: Madonna’s polished and professional 12/6-12/8 Final Research Video for “Like a Prayer” presentation of your main research Paper Presentations SAKAI: Hulsether, “Like a Sermon,” findings to the class. Please submit 12/13 Final Papers due by and Greeley, “Like a Catholic” any presentations materials **Final Paper Research Plan due (powerpoint, prezi, etc.) to me via noon via email by 9:30am. at the start of class. email at least 30 minutes before class. Wednesday 11/15 The Politics of Yoga Final Papers are due Wednesday, Class Question: How do we December 13th by 9:30am interpret yoga? RR#20 F&M: Ch. 16 Gandhi, “Yoga in Popular Culture” SAKAI: Peterson, “In Search of Authenticity”

Friday 11/17 TO BE DETERMINED The class will decide our final discussion topic for this class! **Final Paper Research Summary due at the start of class.

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