Religion and Reality TV Faith in Late Capitalism [Hardcover]

Why is reality television flourishing in today's expanding media market? Religion and Reality TV: Faith in Late Capitalismargues that the reality genre offers answers to many of life's urgent questions: Why am I important? What gives my life meaning? How do I present my best self to the world? Case studies address these questions by examining religious representations through late capitalist lenses, including the maintenance of the self, the commodification of the sacred, and the performance of authenticity. The book's fourteen essays explore why religious themes proliferate in reality TV, audiences' fascination with lived religion, and the economics that make religion and reality TV a successful pairing. Chapters also consider the role of race, gender, and religion in the production and reception of programming.

Religion and Reality TVprovides a framework for understanding the intersection of celebrity, media attention, beliefs, and values. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of religion and media studies, communication, American studies, and popular culture.

Introduction

Part I: Maintenance of the Self

1. Flaunting Christian Patriarchy in the 21st Century: Todd Chrisleys Straight Guy with the Queer Eye

Diane Winston

2. Making Over Body and Soul: Gender, Selfhood, and Parables of Spiritual Neoliberalism on Makeover TV

Brenda R. Weber

3. Black Female Sexual Agency and Racialized Holy Sex in Black Christian Reality TV Shows

Monique Moultrie

Part II: The Performance of Authenticity

4. This is Just an Incredible God Thing: Monetized Domesticity in Bottom-up Media