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Television, Religion, and Supernatural

Hunting Monsters, Finding Gods

Erika Engstrom author Joseph M Valenzano author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Lexington Books

Published:19th Feb '14

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Television, Religion, and Supernatural cover

This insightful exploration of a popular TV series reveals how Television, Religion, and Supernatural addresses complex religious themes through horror and fantasy.

In Television, Religion, and Supernatural, the authors delve into the intricate religious themes portrayed in the popular TV series Supernatural. Through a theory-based inquiry, they explore how the show presents a unique interpretation of Christianity, often devoid of its central figure, Christ. By analyzing the horror and fantasy elements, the book reveals how entertainment television serves as a medium for conveying complex religious messages that resonate with contemporary American faith.

The narrative focuses on the CW network's Supernatural, a series rich in religious symbolism and featuring a variety of religious-based adversaries. The two main characters, brothers Dean and Sam Winchester, embark on a journey to confront and eliminate these supernatural entities. Despite the producers' claims of a nonreligious stance, the authors argue that the show's story arcs and resolutions promote a hegemonic view of Christianity, emphasizing a classic good-versus-evil narrative that often elevates Catholicism.

By examining the brothers' adventures and the moral dilemmas they face, Television, Religion, and Supernatural offers insights into the representation of American values and the ongoing struggle against evil. The book ultimately highlights how a seemingly secular program can convey profound religious undertones and reflects the complexities of faith in modern society.

In summary, Engstrom and Valenzano provide a thorough and interesting investigation of this fan favorite that regularly draws two to three million viewers on the CW network. They clearly identify their methodologies and define their terms. Their knowledge of the show is extensive and many of their conclusions persuasive, though occasionally repetitive. For those researching the relationship between television and the supernatural, the book provides helpful context and information for comparison.... Engstrom and Valenzano demonstrate the value of Supernatural as a resource for teaching about religion, popular culture, media, and representations of the Apocalypse. * Nova Religio: The Journal Of Alternative And Emergent Religions *
The combination of analyses based on concepts from hegemony theory, homiletics and civil religion make Engstrom and Valenzano’s Television, Religion, and Supernatural: Hunting Monsters, Finding Gods a fascinating addition to the burgeoning literature examining the cultural and religious implications of ostensibly secular media. -- Judith M. Buddenbaum, Colorado State University
This is without a doubt one of the best books on television and religion. Timely, intricately researched, a pleasure to read. It is a cleverly written, multi-layered explanation of how religion and popular culture are very similar phenomena. -- Daniel Stout, Brigham Young University–Hawaii

ISBN: 9780739184752

Dimensions: 235mm x 159mm x 17mm

Weight: 390g

166 pages