Religion is represented in many ways different from those experienced by our parents or grandparents.
The topics discussed and themes presented in today’s media are very different from what was tolerated just 50 years ago. For example, when Lucille Ball became pregnant while playing the “I Love Lucy” star, the showrunners consulted a priest, a rabbi and a minister to ensure that no viewers would be offended by the portrayal. of a pregnant woman in the series. . The show never even said the word “pregnant” throughout the entire story arc.
In today’s age of HBO and minimal censorship, such concerns seem insignificant. Whether or not something is offensive to people religiously affiliated with the many sects of Christianity does not seem to be high on the minds of those working in media today.
This is probably linked to the decline of religious affiliation in many countries, notably the United States. The general American public is focusing less and less on religion, according to studies conducted by the Pew Research Center. And one NPR Poll found that only about four in ten millennials consider religion important in their lives.
This change is reflected in today’s media. We are no longer in the era of “I Love Lucy,” where purity, heterosexuality, and the perpetuation of the nuclear family are considered the only acceptable ideals. So how has this decline in religious affiliation affected the way religion is presented and received by the media?
One of the impacts of this situation has been the increase in religious tolerance and the diversity of representations of religion in the stories told. A article in the New York Times, he explained where religion comes into play on television.
“Given the large number of series in the peak television era and the recent emphasis on diversity of all kinds, there should be room for religion and religious diversity as well,” according to Margaret Lyons and James Poniewozik.
There are several examples of religious diversity on mainstream and network television. For example, a notable storyline on “Orange is the New Black” was Cindy’s conversion to Judaism. The scenario overturned stereotypes and was treated in a manner respectful manner regarding the Jewish and black communities. Other examples include how Abed in “Community” broke stereotypes as a Muslim character.
Kanye West is a central figure who includes Christianity in his mainstream fame. His most recent album, “Jesus is King,” included hyper-Christian themes and received mixed reviews. He has been criticized in particular for his lyricism and the perpetuation of extreme religious ideals.
“Revelations in recent weeks – that he chastised his wife for wearing tight clothes, asked his aides to abstain from premarital sex and began keeping a Christian scorecard that includes limiting himself to two swear words a day – suggest that his interpretation of the Gospel was more dogmatic than faithful,” states an article in Fork.
Although West was able to continue his success despite his preaching of strict Christian scriptures, other publicly evangelical Christians did not fare as well with the general public. This is partly due to the intolerance that is often associated with these types of Christians and their churches. Characters like Angela Martin in “The Office” are portrayed as annoying and judgmental – and that goes beyond the realm of fiction. Conservative and strict Christian sisters Bethany Baired and Kristen Clark became infamous when popular YouTube commentator Cody Ko filmed a video. criticism from their YouTube channel. They became one of most hated and criticized the platform’s channels for their outdated beliefs and intolerant messages.
More progressive versions of Christianity, however, fare better in the public eye. For example, the first episode of the second season of “Queer Eye,” featuring a devout Christian mother and her gay son, is one of the most popular and beloved episodes of the season. The episode details the struggles members of the LGBTQIA community face in the church, but ends on a positive note, suggesting that anyone can find peace in their spirituality, no matter what it looks like.
One of the most notable differences in how media has evolved when it comes to exploring these topics is how spirituality can be represented outside of the realm of a specific religion. One example is Michael Schur’s “The Good Place,” a sitcom about a nondenominational afterlife. The rules of The Good Place are based on moral, ethical and philosophical concerns, rather than traditional religious beliefs. This barely touches on institutional religion itself – in the first episode, Ted Danson’s character remarks that, when it comes to the afterlife, “every religion is about 5% right.”
The afterlife in “The Good Place” does not have a version of a God, but instead focuses on the impact humans have on their own destiny. Although the era of “I Love Lucy” may have viewed “The Good Place” as an offensive display of sacrilege, today many people find comfort in its message and accept that one’s view on spirituality and religion may be different from theirs.
Written by: Alyssa Ilsley — arts@theaggie.org