Manchester University Press
10 Examining the digital religion paradigm
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Abstract
This chapter undertakes a survey of active participants on religiously orientated Reddit threads. Prior research has shown that participants in online communities tend to be more enthusiastic and more invested in a given topic than nonparticipants (Duggan and Smith 2013). We assess the degree to which different religious groups feel motivated to watch biblical epics and how religiosity predicts watching biblical epic movies. Such research theoretically contributes to the understanding of the audience for biblical epics and more broadly contributes to our understanding of the religious motivations for media consumption. More practically, understanding the audience for biblical epics could help media producers understand the boundaries of their audience and the preferences of their audience.
Abstract
This chapter undertakes a survey of active participants on religiously orientated Reddit threads. Prior research has shown that participants in online communities tend to be more enthusiastic and more invested in a given topic than nonparticipants (Duggan and Smith 2013). We assess the degree to which different religious groups feel motivated to watch biblical epics and how religiosity predicts watching biblical epic movies. Such research theoretically contributes to the understanding of the audience for biblical epics and more broadly contributes to our understanding of the religious motivations for media consumption. More practically, understanding the audience for biblical epics could help media producers understand the boundaries of their audience and the preferences of their audience.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures ix
- List of contributors xi
- Preface by Adele Reinhartz xv
- Acknowledgements xix
- Introduction 1
- 1 Battles over the biblical epic 23
- 2 Depicting ‘biblical’ narratives 36
- 3 Special effects and CGI in the biblical epic fi lm 50
- 4 The phenomenon of biblical telenovelas in Brazil and Latin America 68
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Part II Modern narratives and contexts in adapting the Bible
- 5 Mythic cinema and the contemporary biblical epic 87
- 6 The Nativity reborn 102
- 7 Convince me 122
- 8 Controversy and the ‘Culture War’ 143
- 9 ‘Can anything good come out of Southern California?’* (*hyperlink to John 1:46) 161
- 10 Examining the digital religion paradigm 174
- 11 The devil and the Culture Wars 193
- 12 Ben-Her(?) 214
- 13 The biblical-trial film 230
- 14 ‘Squint against the grandeur’ 247
- Filmography 265
- Index 270
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures ix
- List of contributors xi
- Preface by Adele Reinhartz xv
- Acknowledgements xix
- Introduction 1
- 1 Battles over the biblical epic 23
- 2 Depicting ‘biblical’ narratives 36
- 3 Special effects and CGI in the biblical epic fi lm 50
- 4 The phenomenon of biblical telenovelas in Brazil and Latin America 68
-
Part II Modern narratives and contexts in adapting the Bible
- 5 Mythic cinema and the contemporary biblical epic 87
- 6 The Nativity reborn 102
- 7 Convince me 122
- 8 Controversy and the ‘Culture War’ 143
- 9 ‘Can anything good come out of Southern California?’* (*hyperlink to John 1:46) 161
- 10 Examining the digital religion paradigm 174
- 11 The devil and the Culture Wars 193
- 12 Ben-Her(?) 214
- 13 The biblical-trial film 230
- 14 ‘Squint against the grandeur’ 247
- Filmography 265
- Index 270
