Aesthetic Formations: Media, Religion, and the Senses (Religion Culture Critique)

The central theme of this volume is the incorporation of newly accessible mass media into practices of religious mediation in a variety of settings, including Pentecostal-charismatic churches and Islamic movements, and the use of religious forms and images in the sphere of radio and cinema. Based on a long-term cooperation, the contributors examine the role of religion and media in the emergence and sustenance of new ‘aesthetic formations’ that appeal to the body and the senses, and generate new styles of binding and moods of belonging in our time. Cover 1 Contents 6 List of Illustrations 8 Series Editor’s Preface 10 Preface 12 Introduction: From Imagined Communities to Aesthetic Formations: Religious Mediations, Sensational Forms, and Styles of Binding 16 Part 1 Boundary Politics 44 1 “Don’t Ask Questions, Just Observe!” Boundary Politics in Bahian Candomblé 46 2 Purity and the Devil: Community, Media, and the Body. Pentecostal Adherents in a Favela in Rio de Janeiro 68 3 “More Sexpression Please!” Screening the Female Voice and Body in the Bangladesh Film Industry 86 Part 2 Religion in the Public Realm 106 4 Tamil Mythological Cinema and the Politics of Secular Modernism 108 5 Islamic Renewal, Radio, and the Surface of Things 132 6 The Sonic Architects of a New Babel: The Politics of Belonging of DJ Shadow and Fernando Clarke 152 Part 3 Mediating Immediacy 174 7 Breath, Technology, and the Making of Community Canção Nova in Brazil 176 8 Modes of Binding, Moments of Bonding. Mediating Divine Touch in Ghanaian Pentecostalism and Traditionalism 198 9 Prophecy on Stage: Fame and Celebrities in the Context of the Raelian Movement 222 10 Seized by the Spirit. The Mystical Foundation of Squatting among Pentecostals in Caracas (Venezuela) Today 240 Bibliography 262 List of Contributors 282 Index 286 A 286 B 286 C 287 D 288 E 288 F 289 G 289 H 289 I 289 J 290 K 290 L 290 M 290 N 291 O 291 P 291 Q 291 R 291 S 292 T 293 U 293 V 293 W 293 Y 293 Z 293 Introduction: From Imagined Communities To Aesthetic Formations : Religious Mediations, Sensational Forms, And Styles Of Binding / Birgit Meyer -- Boundary Politics -- Don't Ask Questions, Just Observe! : Boundary Politics In Bahian Candomblé / Mattijs Van De Port -- Purity And The Devil : Community, Media, And The Body. Pentecostal Adherents In A Favela In Rio De Janeiro / Martijn Oosterbaan -- More Sexpression Please! : Screening The Female Voice And Body In The Bangladesh Film Industry / Lotte Hoek -- Religion In The Public Realm -- Tamil Mythological Cinema And The Politics Of Secular Modernism / Stephen Putnam Hughes -- Islamic Renewal, Radio, And The Surface Of Things / Brian Larkin -- The Sonic Architects Of A New Babel : The Politics Of Belonging Of Dj Shadow And Fernando Clarke / Francio Guadeloupe -- Mediating Immediacy -- Breath, Technology, And The Making-of Community Canção Nova In Brazil / Maria José A. De Abreu -- Modes Of Binding, Moments Of Bonding. Mediating Divine Touch In Ghanaian Pentecostalism And Traditionalism / Marleen De Witte -- Prophecy On Stage : Fame And Celebrities In The Context Of The Raelian Movement / Carly Machado -- Seized By The Spirit : The Mystical Foundation Of Squatting Among Pentecostals In Caracas (venezuela) Today / Rafael Sánchez. Edited By Birgit Meyer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Introduction: From imagined communities to aesthetic formations : religious mediations, sensational forms, and styles of binding / Birgit Meyer Boundary politics Don't ask questions, just observe : boundary politics in Bahian Candombl / Mattijs van de Port Purity and the devil : community, media and the body Pentecostal : adherents in a favela in Rio de Janeiro / Martijn Oosterbaan More sexpression please! : screening the female voice and body in the Bangladesh film industry / Lotte Hoek Religion in the public realm Tamil mythological cinema and the politics of secular modernism / Stephen Putnam Hughes Modern religions, modern media : Islamic renewal in Northern Nigeria / Brian Larkin The sonic architects of a new babel : the politics of belonging of DJ Shadow and Fernando Clarke / Francio Guadeloupe Mediating immediacy Breath, technology, and the making-of community Can O Nova in Brazil / Maria Jose de Abreu Modes of binding, moments of bonding : mediating divine touch in Ghanaian Pentecostalism and traditionalism / Marleen de Witte Prophecy on stage : fame and celebrities in the context of the Raelian Movement / Carly Machado Seized by the spirit : the mystical foundation of squatting among Pentecostals in Caracas (Venezuela) today / Rafael Sanchez. The central theme of this volume is the incorporation of newly accessible mass media into practices of religious mediation in a variety of settings, including Pentecostal-charismatic churches and neo-traditional and Islamic movements, and the use of religious forms and image in the sphere of radio and cinema. Based on a long-term cooperation, the contributors examine the role of religion and media in the emergence and sustenance of new aesthetic formations that appeal to the body and the senses, and generate new styles of binding and moods of belonging in our time This book examines the incorporation of newly accessible mass media into practices of religious mediation in a variety of settings including the Pentecostal Church and Islamic movements, as well as the use of religious forms and image in the sphere of radio and cinema.