Week 3 - Theoretical Reading - 'The Mediatization of Religion'

Hjarvard, in "The Mediatization of Religion:  A Theory of the Media as Agents of Religious Change" discusses how the development of modern media has changed not only how we receive religious messages, but so far as it alters the role religion plays in society in general.

In this article, it is emphasised that 'modern media do not only present or report on religious issues, but also change the very ideas and authority of religious institutions and alter the ways people interact with each other when dealing with religious issues' (11).

Hjarvard uses the example of media portraying supernatural phenomena and the metaphysical realm in general. In previous years, such things would only be the product of our imaginations, however now there are many varieties of supernatural-inspired media portrayed and available, and not in just in fiction genres but also in documentaries, along with greater attention being given to institutionalised religions such as Islam and Christianity (9-10).

Along with an increased presentations of religious messages and phenomena in media, Hjarvard points out that because media infiltrate almost every aspect of society and make up large networks through which human interaction is filtered, media has begun to create feelings of community and belonging and has taken over the role of providing 'information, tradition and moral orientation' for members of society, a role that in previous years was fulfilled by churches, families and schools (13).

Religion has therefore become 'mediatized'. That is, media 'facilitates changes in the amount, content and direction of religious messages in society at the same time as they transform religious representations and challenge and replace the authority of institutionalised religions' (14).

It is interesting to note Hjarvard's view is that although it may seem as though this increased portrayal of religion and religious themes in media means that there is developing a 're-sacralisation' of modern society in which religion is gradually replacing secular tendencies, this is not necessarily the case. Hjarvard argues that there is still a strong emphasis on secularisation of society and that in fact the mediatization of religion could be considered as 'part of a gradual secularisation - it is the historical process in which media have taken over may of the social functions that used to be performed by religious institutions' (10).

This is paradoxical in the fact that we are seeing more religious-themed stories and images than ever before and yet because they are portrayed independently of any institutionalised religions (especially in cases of supernatural television shows or movies), it forms part of the secularisation of society. And it is a society that is perhaps more comfortable than ever with supernatural, metaphysical themes yet less comfortable with other aspects of institutionalised religions.

Reference

Hjarvard, S, 2008, 'The Mediatization of Religion: A Theory of the Media as Agents of Religious Change', Northern Lights, 6, 1, 9-26