Week 4 - Commercialised Jesus

Harvey's analysis of Jesus in American Culture (2010) provides a solid background to the increasing mediatization and commercialization of Jesus. This is done by recounting the history of Jesus in America, from the Jesuits in New France and Pluebo Indians in New Mexico to the more recent awakening and rise of the Evangelical Jesus (Harvey 2011, 397-398). Each of these cultures embraced Jesus in different ways, but have ultimately come together to make America a Jesus nation. Harvey points out that even the KKK identified with Christ seen through their white uniforms which "bore the righteousness of Christ" (Harvey 2011, 406).

Jesus Camp Documentary Film: http://i2.listal.com/image/1850183/600full-jesus-camp-artwork.jpg

The shift to the Evangelical Christ happened during the first industrial and technological boom. This meant that the Evangelicals were the first to implement the use of printing presses, radio and other forms of media to spread the message of Jesus (Harvey 2011, 400). The product of this is a rapidly expanding industry of merchandise, television programs, movies and religious sects dedicated to Jesus in America, and indeed the world today. The evangelicalisation of America is poignant in the 2006 film Jesus Camp. The controversial documentary follows the story of children attending an Evangelical Camp run by eccentric camp leader, Becky Fischer. The way in which the film was shot depicts Fischer brainwashing the impressionable children into an army for God which has consequently seen the camp shut down (Curtis 2006).

Jesus Underwear: http://www.alittleleaven.com/files/thong.jpeg

The use of media to convey a message is one thing, but the mass mediatization  implemented more frequently these days is a little out of control. The media has skewed our moral compass; so much so that now the printing of Jesus on underwear is socially acceptable. As well as this, there is a skewed representation of what Jesus looks like. For instance, the television program, The Bible, portrays Jesus as a handsome, white Hollywood actor when in actual fact what Jesus looked like is somewhat unknown. By doing this, the media appeals to wider audiences for financial gain; because let's face it, when has the lead of a movie ever been ugly?

References: 

Harvey P. 2011. Jesus in American Culture. In D. Burkett (Ed) The Blackwell Companion to Jesus. Ebook. DOI: 10.1002/9781444327946

Jesus is my Homeboy Thong. No date. Retrieved March 22, 2013. http://www.alittleleaven.com/files/thong.jpeg

Jesus Camp. No date. Retrieved March 22, 2013. http://i2.listal.com/image/1850183/600full-jesus-camp-artwork.jpg 

Curtis G. 2006. Jesus Camp Shuts Down Due to Negative Response. Christian Today. http://www.christiantoday.com/article/jesus.camp.shuts.down.due.to.negative.response/8539.htm.