Religion in American Media and Pop Culture

This course introduces students to religion, media, and American popular culture.

The course examines how religious and spiritual ideas, practices, and communities are being reshaped by television, films, the internet, mobile devices, and popular culture.

How are electronic media changing American values and behaviors? How might we understand the relationship between American Christians and American popular culture? Have sports, television, or entertainment replaced older ways of being religious? Is our modern media environment hostile to faith, or is it spiritual in wholly new and unexpected ways? We explore these questions and others through readings, films, videos, websites, and other forms of new media.