Week 2 - Theoretical Reading - 'Media, Aesthetics and the Study of Contemporary Religion'

One of the most interesting concepts I found in Birgit Meyer's article 'Religious Sensations: Media, Aesthetics and the Study of Contemporary Religion' was the argument that religious feelings and experiences are created by 'particular social structures, sensory regimes, bodily techniques, doctrines and practices that make up a religion' (159). This is in contrast to what I have sometimes assumed about religious feelings - that they occur, in a way spontaneously, in people without much control and that the features of an organised religion are there to assist people in exploring and expressing those religious feelings that have arisen within them rather than the social structures themselves generating the feelings.

Meyer uses Pentecostal religions as an example of a churches which 'not only generate but heat up and intensify religious feelings' (160). And, importantly because such 'socially produced' and repetitious religious practices generate these feelings and experiences, it enables such experiences to be reproduced which further intensifies feelings. Through using media, this can then be shared with many others, allowing many more to be attracted to these churches by the thought of having such direct and immediate contact with the 'Holy Spirit'.

In terms of the relation between media and religion, Meyer's view is that modern media helps to shape the 'sensational forms' around the relationship between human beings and the transcendental and therefore media becomes very relevant to religious practice (160). She goes so far as to argue that media is 'intrinsic to religion' which I interpret to mean that without a mode of sharing information and the transcendental experiences of a religion, that religion is unable to exist. An early example of such media would be holy books such as the Bible or the Qur'an which were printed and distributed to people eventually. As technology progresses and we have many more ways of distributing information, in our time. this modern media allows for 'reformation and reactivation of religion' (165).


Reference:

Meyer B. 2012. Religious Sensations: Media, Aesthetics and the Study of Contemporary Religion. In Lynch G. and J. Mitchell with A. Strhan. Eds., Religion, Media and Culture:  A Reader. 159-170. London and New York:  Routledge.