Religion And Reality Tv

Why is reality television flourishing in today's expanding media market? Religion and Reality TV: Faith in Late Capitalism argues 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 region in the production and reception of programming. Religion and Reality TV provides a framework for understanding the intersection of celebrity, media attention, and American beliefs and values. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of religion and media studies, communication, American studies, and popular culture. Review: Religion and Reality TV: Faith in Late Capitalism provides a valuable constellation of case studies in the increasingly popular place of religion in the contemporary TV landscape. The collection's insightful analysis of how religion, spirituality, and identify have been monetized within the generic and format expectations of reality TV make the book useful for classes focusing on television studies and/or religion. This collection's particular attention to specific religious traditions and identities as well as more generalized spirituality provide multiple approaches to faith within reality TV. Charlotte E. Howell, Boston University, USA