The Bloomsbury Handbook of Religion and Popular Music

Description

The Bloomsbury Handbook of Religion and Popular Music is the first comprehensive analysis of the most important themes and concepts in this field. Drawing on contemporary research from religious studies, theology, sociology, ethnography, and cultural studies, the volume comprises thirty-one specifically commissioned essays from a team of international experts. The chapters explore the principal areas of inquiry and point to new directions for scholarship. Featuring chapters on methodology, key genres, religious traditions and popular music subcultures, this volume provides the essential reference point for anyone with an interest in religion and popular music as well as popular culture more broadly. Religious traditions covered include Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Paganism and occultism. Coverage of genres and religion ranges from heavy metal, rap and hip hop to country music and film and television music. Edited by Christopher Partridge and Marcus Moberg, this Handbook defines the research field and provides an accessible entry point for new researchers in the field. Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of Images List of Contributors Introduction The study of religion and popular music Methodologies Critical musicology and the sacred Part One: The Study of Religion and Popular Music: Theoretical Perspectives, Methodologies and Issues Chapter 1: Ethnography, Popular Music and Religion Part 1: Ethnography: Origins and trajectories Part 2: ‘Telling it like it is’: Ethnography, popular music and everyday life ‘This is my truth’: One-to-one interviews ‘Through a different lens’: Participant and non-participant observation ‘Of one and many voices’: Focus groups ‘Across the great divide’: Insider research Worlds within worlds: Virtual ethnography A work in progress: Limitations of ethnographic research Chapter 2: Emotion, Meaning and Popular Music The social meaning of popular music Intertextuality and the construction of affective space Music as a prosthetic technology Concluding comments: Music, emotion and religion Chapter 3: Music, Religion and Protest Demonizing music Self-determination Chapter 4: Censorship, Religion and Popular Music Religion as a moral regulator The inherent evil of popular music Popular music censorship Forms of religious censorship Conclusion Chapter 5: Feminism, Gender and Popular Music Initial considerations Gender and the evaluation of popular music Aesthetics, rock/pop and the body Negotiating Gendered Meanings: Kate Bush and Madonna Part Two: Religious Perspectives Chapter 6: The Bible and Popular Music Some kicks of the bass drum: Brief uses of the Bible in popular music Three symbol crashes: Sustained uses of the Bible in popular music Closing thoughts Chapter 7: Theology, Imagination and Popular Music What has graceland to do with Jerusalem? Post-secular popular music The swarming forms of the banal Chapter 8: Christianity, Worship and Popular Music Part one: Christian attitudes towards (popular) music in worship – a short history Part two: Using popular worship music Part three: ‘Learning to listen’ to popular worship music Conclusion Chapter 9: Contemporary Christian Music In the beginning Baby boom Rock ‘n’ roll Christian hippies The new ‘hip’ language Trailblazers Production and distribution, and contributions Christian festivals The changing face of CCM Chapter 10: Islam and Popular Music Muslim theologians on music The philosophers and the Sufis Islamic legal scholars Popular music in the contemporary Islamic context Conclusions Chapter 11: Jews, Judaism and Popular Music Judaic and Jewish What is Jewish music? The Jazz Singer Jewish-American popular music The new Jewish music Conclusion Chapter 12: Hinduism and Popular Music Introduction Western popular music: Cultural exchange or cultural appropriation? Conclusion Chapter 13: Buddhism and Popular Music Introduction Tibetan Buddhist sacred performing arts Western artists and Buddhism Conclusion: Buddhist-inflected popular musical styles and context-appropriate sounds Chapter 14: Japanese Religion and Popular Music Complicating religion in contemporary Japan From matsuri (festivals) to Handel’s ‘Messiah’ Mixed messages in heavy metal, hip hop and ‘Hannya Shingyō’ Alternative spirituality in psychedelic-trance raves Ritual in the underground Tokyo hard-core scene Conclusion Chapter 15: Chinese Religions and Popular Music Overview of Chinese religions Popular music in Chinese religions Chinese religions in popular music Diffused religious ideas in popular music: Mingyun and Yuanfun Particular religious philosophies in popular music: Buddhist and Taoist teachings In search of Chinese religious elements in pop music Chapter 16: Paganism and Popular Music What is Paganism? What is popular music? Methodology Websites, blogs and podcasts Public perception Pagan festivals Musical analysis Paramusical analysis Conclusion Chapter 17: Popular Music and the Occult The Devil’s music Early extreme metal Norwegian black metal, Satanism and Heathenism Metal and the occult milieu Occult rock The ritual black metal scene Beyond metal: Industrial, post-industrial and neofolk music Hip hop and the occult connection Conclusion Chapter 18: Caribbean Religions and Popular Music Haiti Dominican Republic Cuba Jamaica Part Three: Genres Chapter 19: Heavy Metal Heavy metal music: Historical development and engagement with religion and religious themes Heavy metal music studies and religion Concluding remarks Chapter 20: Pop and Rock Pop Rock Pop, rock and religion Chapter 21: Punk and Hardcore Christianity Hinduism Judaism Islam Buddhism DIY spirituality Conclusion Chapter 22: Reggae The roots of reggae: Afro-Christianity, Rastafari and Millenarianism Reggae and biblical Millenarianism Chanting down Babylon Dub esotericism Concluding comments Chapter 23: Folk Music Folk music and national identity Folk music and musical identity Folk music and personal identity Conclusion Chapter 24: Country Music and Religion History and authenticity claims Religious history and themes Case study: Johnny Cash, religion and masculinity Chapter 25: Electronic Dance Music: Trance and Techno-Shamanism EDM and religion Psytrance Liminalization in EDM Trance and the technoshaman Conclusion Chapter 26: Blues and Jazz Introduction Background and contexts Discussion Chapter 27: Psychedelic Music The emergence of psychedelic culture Psychedelic spirituality and popular music in the 1960s Paganism, occultism and psychedelic folk Psychedelic dance and ambient music Concluding comments Chapter 28: Rap and Hip Hop Beginnings and contexts Aesthetics and poetics Culture and power Cha[ter 29: Goth Music and Subculture Goth symbols: Dark angels of sin Goth spaces: Multisensory heterotopias Goth sounds: Liminal liturgies Non/religious occulture between God and the Devil Chapter 30: Ambient Music Introduction The development of ambient music Brian Eno and ambient music Chill out music Ambient music in religion and religion in ambient music Chapter 31: Popular Music and the Religious Screen Introduction Popular music for purpose Gospel markers Racial markers Spatial markers Machine Gun Preacher Conclusion Notes Chapter 1 Chapter 3 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 19 Chapter 21 Chapter 23 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 31 Bibliography Discography Filmography Index