REL 32300 - Religion And Popular Culture

This course will focus on the portrayal and treatment of religion in popular culture and will examine some of the ways in which religious and mythic themes are expressed in such pop culture forums as television shows, films, mass-market fiction, and music. Students will be asked to think about the various ways in which traditional religious themes, symbols and images, and texts make their way into our cultural consciousness through mass media, as well as how popular religious ideas are reflected in mainstream cultural outlets.

Cr. 3.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Lead students to a critical and informed understanding of the many ways in which religious and mythic themes are present in influential pop culture forums.
2. Expose students to some for the analytic and interpretive methods currently used in the academic study of religion through the in-depth examination of the place of religion in particular pop culture forums.
3. Assist students in refining their critical thinking skills, which is evaluated though both oral and written assignments, including a high-stakes group presentation.