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Drag Queens and Farting Preachers: American Televangelism, Participatory Media, and Unfaithful Fandoms

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Drag Queens and Farting Preachers: American Televangelism, Participatory Media, and Unfaithful Fandoms Drag Queens and Farting Preachers: American Televangelism, Participatory Media, and Unfaithful Fandoms by Denis J. Bekkering A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2015 © Denis J. Bekkering 2015 Author’s Declaration I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract Studies of religion and fandom have generally considered sincere devotion a fundamental point of contact between the two cultural phenomena, an assumption not reflected in fan studies proper. This dissertation aims to expand the scope of research on religion and fandom by offering cultural histories of “unfaithful” fan followings of three controversial American televangelists – Robert Tilton, Tammy Faye Bakker/Messner, and Jim Bakker – dating from the 1980s to 2012, and consisting of individuals amused by, rather than religiously affiliated with, their chosen television preachers. It is argued that through their ironic, parodic, and satirical play with celebrity preachers widely believed to be religious fakes, these unfaithful fans have engaged in religious work related to personal and public negotiations of authentic Christianity. Additionally, it is demonstrated that through their activities, and in particular through their media practices, these fans have impacted the brands and mainstream representations of certain televangelists, and have provoked ministry responses including dismissal, accommodation, and counteraction. iii Acknowledgements Family comes first. My wife Erica is the main reason that this project has been completed. Her support, understanding, patience, and love sustained me during this PhD, and I am forever grateful. Freja, you are hilarious, headstrong, and inspiringly inquisitive – your father could not love you more. My parents Harry and Denise Bekkering and Jake and Ann Van Damme provided invaluable moral and material support throughout my studies. No more school, I promise. Thanks also to my amazing and amusing sisters: Annalise, Emily, Andrea, Lynette, and Ashley. Thank you to Dr. Robert Cousland and Dr. Paul Burns at the University of British Columbia, who encouraged me to pursue a PhD. Rob, thanks for your friendship and for expanding my musical horizons. At the University of Waterloo, thanks especially to the members of my supervisory committee: Dr. Douglas Cowan, Dr. Jeff Wilson, and Dr. Lorne Dawson. You are all inspiring scholars who have helped me enormously along every step of the way. Thank you to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) for awarding me a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship. Finally, thank you to my interviewees for sharing your knowledge, histories, opinions, and media. This project would not have been possible without your participation. iv Dedication To Erica and Freja. v Table of Contents Author’s Declaration ....................................................................................................................... ii Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... iv Dedication ....................................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1 – Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Sincerity, Religious Authenticity, and Play with Celebrity Revival Fakes ....................... 4 1.3 Televangelism, Unfaithful Fandoms, and the Way Forward ........................................... 19 Chapter 2 – Literature Review and Methodology......................................................................... 27 2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 27 2.2 Studies of Televangelist Audiences ................................................................................. 28 2.3 Televangelist Scandals and Fun with Religious Fakes .................................................... 38 2.4 Popular Culture, Fandom, and Humor ............................................................................. 45 2.5 Participatory Media, Methodology, and Religion and the Internet ................................. 58 2.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 69 Chapter 3 – Robert Tilton, Ironic Fandom, and Recreational Christianity ................................... 71 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 71 3.2 Introducing Robert Tilton ................................................................................................ 73 3.3 Ironic Fans, Tilton Tapers, and “The Unofficial Robert Tilton Fan Club” ..................... 78 3.4 Parody Religions, Alternative Media, and Recreational Christianity .............................. 88 3.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 108 Chapter 4 – “The (Unofficial) Robert Tilton Fan Club,” Tabloid Scandal, and a Flatulent Remix .......................................................................................................................................... 110 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 110 4.2 The URTFC, Brother Bucks, and the “Fart” Tape ......................................................... 112 4.3 Tabloid Scandal, the Trinity Foundation, and Video Proof Texts ................................. 120 4.4 Playing with, and Profiting from, Religious Scandal .................................................... 133 4.5 After “Love That Bob!”: The Brief Rise and Gradual Fall of an Ironic Fan vi Following ............................................................................................................................. 141 4.6 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 151 Chapter 5 – Recreational Christianity Goes Mainstream: Godstuff and “Pastor Gas” ............... 153 5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 153 5.2 Godstuff: Recreational Christianity on Cable Television .............................................. 157 5.3 Online Ironic Fandom, Streaming Video, and Viral Rebranding .................................. 170 5.4 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 187 Chapter 6 – Tammy Faye Bakker, Ludicrous Tragedy, and Campy Fandom ............................ 188 6.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 188 6.2 Tammy Faye, Campy Fans, and a Critical Edge ........................................................... 190 6.3 Scandals, Suffering, and Drag Queens .......................................................................... 201 6.4 The Mainstream and the Marketability of Survival ....................................................... 212 6.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 225 Chapter 7 – The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Camp Rebranding, and Sexual Politics ......................... 227 7.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 227 7.2 The Eyes of Tammy Faye and the Foundations for a Rebranding .................................. 228 7.3 After The Eyes of Tammy Faye: A Complicated Camp Rebranding ............................. 237 7.4 Reality TV, Sexual Politics, and the Continued Construction of an Authentic Christian ............................................................................................................................... 252 7.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 263 Chapter 8 – The Jim Bakker Foodbucket Fanpage: Online Antifandom, Satire, and Collaborative Investigation ................................................................................................................................ 267 8.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 267 8.2 Antifandom, Blogs, and The Jim Bakker Foodbucket Fanpage .................................... 271 8.3 Online Antifandom, Knowledge
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