SPECIAL ISSUE ON FILM, TELEVISION AND THE BODY

GUEST EDITOR: ALEXANDER ORNELLA, UNIVERSITY OF HULL

INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE
Article by Alexander Ornella (University of Hull), pp.1-7

“YOU CANNOT BE IN LOVE WITH A WORD”: THEOLOGIES OF EMBODIMENT IN DREYER’S THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC, AXEL’S BABETTE’S FEAST AND VON TRIER’S BREAKING THE WAVES.
Article by Alina Birzache (University of Edinburgh), pp. 8-30

EXCESS, ARTIFICE, SENTIMENTALITY: ALMODOVAR’S CAMP CINEMA AS A CHALLENGE FOR THEOLOGICAL AESTHETICS.
Article by Stefanie Knauss (Villanova University), pp. 31-55

SCREENING PIETY, INVOKING FERVOUR: THE STRANGE CASE OF ITALY’S TELEVISED MASS.
Article by Davide Zordan (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), pp. 56-83

WHEN CHURCH AND CINEMA COMBINE: BLURRING BOUNDARIES THROUGH MEDIA-SAVVY EVANGELICALISM.
Article by Deborah Justice (Syracuse University), pp. 84-119

MASTERS OF CYBER-RELIGION: THE FEMALE BODY AS GOD’S “INTERFACE” IN THE TV SERIES CAPRICA.
Article by Jutta Wimmler (European-University Viadrina), pp. 120-154

“YOU’RE MY TRUE VESSEL”: KNOWLEDGE AND DIGITAL FAN CULTURE DISCUSSED ON THE BASIS OF MEDIUMSHIP AND POSSESSION IN SUPERNATURAL‘S NARRATIVE AND FANDOM.
Article by Lisa Kienzl (University of Graz), pp. 155-180.

MANGA, WUXIA AND (NEW) RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISMS: THE ORIENTALIZATION OF THE WESTERN IMAGINARY, FROM OSAMU TEZUKA TO CONTEMPORARY ORIENTAL DISCIPLINES
Article by Alessandro Porrovecchio (University of the Littoral Opal Coast, France)

ABSTRACT: A new interest in various forms of spirituality and religiosity is emerging in some subcultures of contemporary society. Oriental disciplines and martial arts are a significant case study for the purpose of analyzing this on-going process. These practices may also affect people’s identities by changing their values, ethics and morality. To explore the Orientalization process, I first introduce some features of the diffusion of the “mythical Orients” in the Western imaginary since the sixties. In particular, I focus on some media products (for example, mangas and wuxia movies) that played an important role in arousing interest in Other cultures. In this stage I will refer to some media theories, in particular to Gerbner’s cultivation theory and to the medial socialization effect. In a second step I focus on the imaginary embodied in some Oriental disciplines and martial arts. I refer to some results of research that I am conducting in martial arts gyms, starting from my experience as an instructor. In that context I performed an ethnographic study, gathering in-depth interviews with masters, beginners, fighters, experts and therapists, and analysing the interactions within online communities (virtual ethnography). This last method allowed me to focus on how some features of the media imaginary are mediated through the interactions within the virtual communities.

UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN BLOGGER MOTIVATIONS: WOE UNTO ME IF I BLOG NOT THE GOSPEL
Article by Regina Burgess (Spring Arbor University, USA)

ABSTRACT: Blogger motivations previously been studied, but there is a lack of studies specific to the motivations of bloggers who self-proclaim their Christianity. Forty-four bloggers participated in a self-administered survey questionnaire sent via email. They answered questions about their reasons to create a blog, original goals for their blog, and reasons to blog regularly [...] Results suggest that these Christian bloggers were not motivated by the same motivations to the same degree as bloggers from previous research who are not vocal on their blogs about Christian, faith-based themes.

Volume 3 Issue 1 – Reviews
Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture (April 2014)

Cyborg Selves: A Theological Anthropology of the Posthuman, by Jeanine Thweatt-Bates (Ashgate, 2012)
Reviewer: Michael Burdett
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Science, Religion and the Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence, by David Wilkinson (Oxford University Press, 2013)
Reviewer: Eric Stoddart
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Viral: How Social Networking is Poised to Ignite Revival, by Leonard Sweet (Waterbrook Press, 2012)
Reviewer: Andy Byers
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The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the God News in New Ways, by Meredith Gould (Liturgical Press, 2013)
Reviewer: Amy Anderson
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iGods: How Technology Shapes Our Spiritual and Social Lives, by Craig Detweiler (Brazos Press, 2013)
Reviewer: Adam Copeland
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THE LEGEND OF ZELDA AND THEOLOGY, ED. JONATHAN L. WALLS (GRAY MATTER BOOKS, 2011).
Review article by Jason Anthony (Time Magazine).
“Game theorists, game designers, seminarians and the curious would do well to pick up The Legend of Zelda and Theology. Its authors can proudly list their names on the leaderboard of those minds exploring the intersections of games and religion in the 21st century.”

PROMOTING PEACE, INCITING VIOLENCE: THE ROLE OF RELIGION AND MEDIA, BY JOLYON MITCHELL (ROUTLEDGE, 2012).
Review by Amber Stamper (Elizabeth City State University, USA).
“Mitchell has created a truly fascinating and inspiring piece of scholarship: a work of intellect that is both artistic and activist, a printed example of what a sword refashioned into a ploughshare might look like.”