Call for Papers: The Image of Religion & Political Theology in\u00a0Contemporary Pop Culture<\/p>\n
The highly popular and widely disseminated picture of a pregnant Beyonc\u00e9 surrounded by flowers is a strong
\nsymbolic embodiment of a religious image and a political theological message. A black \u201cMadonna\u201d as the queen of
\nmusic. It almost encapsulates her own words. \u201cWho run the world\u201d \u2013 \u201cBeyonc\u00e9\u201d. This pop cultural picturesque image\u00a0reveals the high impact popular cultural messages can achieve with the use of religious forms and a political
\ntheological backdrop. This goes far beyond the images. Religion and theology can be easily found in a variety of pop
\nculture products: from TV shows, through James Bond movies, cookbooks, to children literature \u2013 religion and
\ntheology is framed and reframed in novel ways. These products carry a vast array of messages towards their
\naudience \u2013 religiously infused messages, which might have a deeper impact on the broader society than hundreds of
\ntheological dissertations. Therefore, they call for critical assessments.<\/p>\n
We call for a wide range of empirical case studies and theoretical papers on the subject of religion, political theology
\nand pop culture. We have invited a number of scholars from theology and religious studies, who will try to dig into
\nthe world of contemporary popular culture in order to reveal and discuss the theological or religious messages,
\nforms and figures used. This is the first step in gaining a better perspective on the impact, that such forms of
\ntheology and religion have on society at large.
\nThe workshop is jointly held between University of Copenhagen and Lund University.
\nThe conference is generously funded by CEMES and the Faculty of Theology at the University of Copenhagen as
\nwell as the Centre for Theology and Religious Studies at Lund University. There is therefore no participant\u2019s fee and
\nall speakers are invited to lunch and dinner.<\/p>\n
Travel and accommodation are not covered by the conference.<\/p>\n
CALL FOR PAPERS<\/p>\n
Have you spent hours after hours procrastinating during lockdown with James Bonds movies
\nwaiting for the new one to come out? And have you then begun to wonder what role religion actually
\nplays in James Bond movies? Or have you spent quarantine with your childhood heroes and you are
\nnow looking for hidden religious hints and tokens in Rowling\u2019s works and their adaptions on screen?
\nIf so, this is the conference for you, where we will zoom in on the often-hidden forms and figures of
\nreligion and theology in popular culture.<\/p>\n
Popular culture is today an emerging field in a variety of culturally- and historically-oriented
\ndisciplines. In theology and religious studies, there is a long-standing tradition of studying one\u2019s core
\ntheme within very different forms of cultural products, although usually not in a contemporary
\nsetting. Rarely are the popular products of today critically assessed, despite the fact that these
\nproducts are often the most influential for our time. The popularization of religion and, in particular,
\nChristianity is a widespread and old phenomenon. First, the Gospels in antiquity, and later allegorical
\nepic such as Prudentius Psychomachia from the fifth century, popularized the Christian message to
\na broader audience. This tradition of popularization caught on in the medieval period as witnessed
\nby the widespread tradition of Easter plays of Adam in Eve, monastic plays such as Hildegard of
\nBingen\u2019s Ordo virtutem and the introduction of the Poor Man\u2019s Bible (Biblia pauperum) only
\nconsisting of pictures. The need for popularization became even stronger after the Reformation and
\nCounter-Reformation in order to get the message across and win the support from rulers and
\npeasants alike. Luther\u2019s catechism is just one out of many works from this era, speaking directly to
\nthe family in a plain manner.<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s world, the popularization of Christianity is no longer monopolized within a church and is no
\nlonger only serving religious communities\u2019 interests. The language, themes and figures of religion
\nare spread across popular culture and used in very different ways. The story of Adam and Eve is no
\nlonger only about original sin and redemption, but can today be used as means of selling energy
\ndrinks in a short commercial. Christ is no longer just on the cross. He can be found on sandals in
\nsupermarkets or in bestsellers speculating about his love life.<\/p>\n
In many of today\u2019s popular products, a theological message or religious symbols are discussed
\nthrough language, narratives or symbols in order to comment, raise critic or convey a new
\ntheological perspective on urgent political or religious questions. In other cases, religious symbolism
\nis used simply to create a recognizable narrative in order to sell stuff or to make people laugh. Jesus,
\nas an example, seems to be an ever-present figure in American cartoons, such as South Park,
\nSimpsons, American Dad or Family Guy in which he embodies the American way of life or becomes
\na caricature of American religiosity.<\/p>\n
The agenda of this conference is quite simple \u2013 we want to put the spotlight on the contemporary
\npopular products we all are influenced by and open up for a discussion of the theological themes
\nand religious patterns in them. We call for a multitude of case-studies without a narrow definition of
\neither political theology, religious studies or popular culture. In doing so, the organizers hope to allow
\nfor a stimulating discussion, which, in turn, might provide some lines along which a common agenda
\ncould be formulated.<\/p>\n
Paper proposals of about 300 words should be sent to rel.teo.pop@gmail.com by October 14,
\n2020.<\/p>\n
The intention of this workshop is to establish a loose network for the study of popular culture and
\ntheology in the Nordic countries. We also plan to publish a selection of papers.<\/p>\n
CONFIRMED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
\nAnne Katrine de Hemmer Gudme, Professor at Oslo University. Gudme\u2019s latest book,
\nHimmelsk f\u00f8de og forbuden frugt [Food and Drink in the Bible] (2018) considers not only the
\nbiblical notions of food and drink, but also the influence of such notions on modern society\u2019s
\napproach to food and drinks.
\nJonas Otterbeck, Professor and Head of Research at the Institute for the Study of Muslim
\nCivilisations, Aga Khan University, London. Otterbeck worked extensively on the subject of
\nIslam and popular music
\nTeemu Taira \u2013 Senior Lecturer in Study of Religion at the University of Helsinki. Taira is the
\nco-author of the book Media Portrayals of Religion and the Secular Sacred (2013) and has
\nrecently published a new study of James Bond and religion (2019).<\/p>\n
FORM OF THE CONFERENCE
\nThe first day of the workshop will be held at the University of Copenhagen, while the second will be
\nheld at Lund University. Each day will begin with a keynote lecture followed by presentations of
\npapers throughout the day.<\/p>\n
The participants will be asked to hand in a 5-pages draft a week before the conference commence.
\nThese drafts will be distributed amongst the participants beforehand and a respondent will be
\npicked for each paper. This will hopefully contribute to a deeper discussion of the themes and cases
\nin each presentation.<\/p>\n
Extra measures taken due to covid-19: Due to the covid-19 outbreak the physical participation at the
\nconference will be limited to researchers and students residing in the Nordic countries. All other
\nparticipants are welcome to join digitally. We hope that a blended conference is feasible in
\nNovember and it will be conveyed as such \u2013 with proper security.<\/p>\n
If the outbreak and lockdown continue into November, the conference might be moved completely
\nonline. The situation will be monitored and official regulations will be followed.<\/p>\n
All presentations in all scenarios will be live-streamed and, if participants agree, uploaded on
\nYouTube in order to allow others to access the talks and papers.<\/p>\n
Each presenter will be asked to publish their short presentation (5 pages) of their topic online in
\nadvance if the conference goes completely online in order to enhance the discussion and the Q&A session online.<\/p>\n
THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE
\nJohanna Gustafsson Lundberg \u2013 Deputy Head of Department, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Theology and
\nReligious Studies, Lund University
\nCarsten Selch Jensen \u2013 Dean, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen
\nEmil Saggau \u2013 Ph.D. Student in Church History, Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen
\nRyszard Bobrowicz \u2013 Ph.D. Student in Practical Theology, Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund
\nUniversity<\/p>\n
VENUE
\nVenue: 16th November at University of Copenhagen, Southern Campus, Islands Brygge, Copenhagen
\nVenue: 17th November at Lund University, Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Call for Papers: The Image of Religion & Political Theology in\u00a0Contemporary Pop Culture The highly popular and widely disseminated picture of a pregnant Beyonc\u00e9 surrounded by flowers is a strong symbolic embodiment of a religious image and a political theological message. A black \u201cMadonna\u201d as the queen of music. It almost encapsulates her own words. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":81881,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,63],"tags":[1132,1518,2116,9339],"class_list":["post-81880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-call-for-papers-2","category-music","tag-beyonce","tag-call-for-papers","tag-conference","tag-popular-culture"],"yoast_head":"\n