Media, Religion and Culture Conference
http://www.colorado.edu/journalism/mcm/mrc/
Setting the stage: There is an academic association called “Media, Religion and Culture.” My communications professor and mentor is one of their elder statesmen. Conferences are held every three years and usually at some exotic foreign city. This year it was held in Louisville, Kentucky. Not so exotic. Professor John Ferre was the host; he also provided a blurb for my book. Finally, Tom Boomershine, former president of Lumicon.org and founder of the Society of Biblical Storytellers was there to present some of his research. I am on Lumicon’s board of advisors. Three reasons to go.
All of the people who attend are professors in the field of communications. There were about 80 universities represented from around the globe. Their focus is the effect of media on culture and religion and how religion is communicated through mass media. There are several people of Christian faith but the subject is pursued from a secular academic vantage point.
Some of the hot buttons for this group are ethics and the changing nature of community.
This was a lot like going to Boy Scout camp. Several people came to work on their merit badges (doctoral papers etc.) and the tenured pros acted as counselors to critique the presentations. I was part of the audience that watched and occasionally asked questions.
I listened to research on the “post-human” society, Daffy Duck and the book of Job, how the media portrayed the Catholic sex scandal in cartoons, digital storytelling, fundamentalism and film review, black humor and its use of religion, how the murder of a government official in Sweden became transformed into an national expression of sacred community and finally an analysis to answer whether Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion,” has an anti-Semitic bias (even if unintentional). I can see many asking for my notes.
My book was promoted one evening by the conference and while at dinner several extended congratulation on the book and complimented the content. Then I was asked;
“What institution do you teach at?”
“I don’t,” I replied.
“What is your advanced degree in?”
“I don’t have one,” I replied again.
Then questions like, “How did you get a book like this published?”
“What is it you do again?”
Finally, one of the people with a lot of merit badges, two doctorates and five published books, interjected; “you must be a public academic!” I smiled because I didn’t know if this was a real compliment or not.
The most meaningful part and worth the trip was to see my Professor who so profoundly changed my life and interests. Professor Christians introduced me to several people and he was honored like the Godfather. I was honored too – and that felt surreal, especially, when I was asked my opinion regarding scholars that I had studied with Professor Christians.
I had the privilege to offer something tangible back to Professor Christians as both evidence and thanks for his contribution to my life. I have since speculated what I will have to offer Christ when I am stand before Him and what His response might be. What crowns will I be able to lay before Him? Now there is something to ponder.
Setting the stage: There is an academic association called “Media, Religion and Culture.” My communications professor and mentor is one of their elder statesmen. Conferences are held every three years and usually at some exotic foreign city. This year it was held in Louisville, Kentucky. Not so exotic. Professor John Ferre was the host; he also provided a blurb for my book. Finally, Tom Boomershine, former president of Lumicon.org and founder of the Society of Biblical Storytellers was there to present some of his research. I am on Lumicon’s board of advisors. Three reasons to go.
All of the people who attend are professors in the field of communications. There were about 80 universities represented from around the globe. Their focus is the effect of media on culture and religion and how religion is communicated through mass media. There are several people of Christian faith but the subject is pursued from a secular academic vantage point.
Some of the hot buttons for this group are ethics and the changing nature of community.
This was a lot like going to Boy Scout camp. Several people came to work on their merit badges (doctoral papers etc.) and the tenured pros acted as counselors to critique the presentations. I was part of the audience that watched and occasionally asked questions.
I listened to research on the “post-human” society, Daffy Duck and the book of Job, how the media portrayed the Catholic sex scandal in cartoons, digital storytelling, fundamentalism and film review, black humor and its use of religion, how the murder of a government official in Sweden became transformed into an national expression of sacred community and finally an analysis to answer whether Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion,” has an anti-Semitic bias (even if unintentional). I can see many asking for my notes.
My book was promoted one evening by the conference and while at dinner several extended congratulation on the book and complimented the content. Then I was asked;
“What institution do you teach at?”
“I don’t,” I replied.
“What is your advanced degree in?”
“I don’t have one,” I replied again.
Then questions like, “How did you get a book like this published?”
“What is it you do again?”
Finally, one of the people with a lot of merit badges, two doctorates and five published books, interjected; “you must be a public academic!” I smiled because I didn’t know if this was a real compliment or not.
The most meaningful part and worth the trip was to see my Professor who so profoundly changed my life and interests. Professor Christians introduced me to several people and he was honored like the Godfather. I was honored too – and that felt surreal, especially, when I was asked my opinion regarding scholars that I had studied with Professor Christians.
I had the privilege to offer something tangible back to Professor Christians as both evidence and thanks for his contribution to my life. I have since speculated what I will have to offer Christ when I am stand before Him and what His response might be. What crowns will I be able to lay before Him? Now there is something to ponder.
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