Syllabus
REL 202: Religion and Popular Culture
Section #21040 Session B
Class meets 3/12-4/27
General Studies: HU and C
Instructor: Diana Murtaugh Coleman
Email:
[email protected]
Instructor will normally respond within 24 hours. If you have not received a response
within 24 hours, please send a follow-up message. Always include REL 202 in the
subject line of your emails!
https://isearch.asu.edu/profile/306227
https://asu.academia.edu/DianaColeman
SHPRS Academic Advising:
Office: 480-965-8364
[email protected]
SHPRS asks that you include your full name and ASU ID# in all emails to advising.
Please Note: This is an academic course in Religious Studies, not a confessional or
theological approach that privileges any one religion, or religion as a category of human
understanding. Part of the labor of academia is helping students develop and hone critical
thinking skills as they learn to examine information (some new, some familiar) through
different lenses of analysis. Be forewarned that we will be working with materials that
some people may find offensive because of language, sexual references, religious jokes,
political implications, etc. Religion and religious beliefs are subject to humor and satire
in some of the readings and videos, but please be aware that this is not license to
denigrate the beliefs/practices/identity of others in our course discussions. Our approach
is academic, which means it will be open, intellectually rigorous, and often irreverent. I
will not tolerate any mean-spirited targeting of one another, but neither will I suppress
uncomfortable discussions that are earnest and academically grounded.
I will not be offering substitute materials, so please browse the reading and video
offerings in advance. If you find these materials objectionable, and suspect that you will
not be able to engage the course materials for this reason, then it is better to register for
an alternate course. Of course, personally, I would rather have you stay in the class, grow
through any discomfort, and add your voice to the discussion. Welcome- this is going to
be a great course, and I am looking forward to learning with you!
REQUIRED TEXTS:
There are three books required for this course. Any format or edition is fine:
1) Feltmate, David. Drawn to the Gods: Religion and Humor in the Simpsons, South
Park & Family Guy. New York: NYU Press, 2017.
2) Van Nieuwkerk, Karin, Ed. Muslim Rap, Halal Soaps, and Revolutionary Theater:
Artistic Developments in the Muslim World. Austin, University of Texas Press, 2011.
3) Miller, Monica, Anthony B. Pinn, and Bernard "Bun B" Freeman, Eds. Religion in
Hip Hop: Mapping the New Terrain in the US. New York: Bloomsbury Academic,
2015.
Disability Services: If you require accommodation for documented disability, you must
be registered through the Disability Resource Center. Qualified students with disabilities
who will require disability accommodations in this class are encouraged to make their
requests to me via email at the beginning of the semester. For more information, visit
http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs.ed/drc/
Title IX is a federal law that provides that no person be excluded on the basis of sex from
participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any
education program or activity. Both Title IX and university policy make clear that sexual
violence and harassment based on sex is prohibited. An individual who believes they
have been subjected to sexual violence or harassed on the basis of sex can seek support,
including counseling and academic support, from the university. If you or someone you
know has been harassed on the basis of sex or sexually assaulted, you can find
information and resources at https://sexualviolenceprevention.asu.edu/faqs
As a mandated reporter, I am obligated to report any information I become aware of
regarding alleged acts of sexual discrimination, including sexual violence and dating
violence. ASU Counseling Services, https://eoss.asu.edu/counseling, is available if you
wish discuss any concerns confidentially and privately.
Late Work: Email me if you have a serious issue that prevents you from submitting an
assignment. If you have a conflict, let me know BEFORE the due date. Technical
difficulties will NOT constitute an excuse for missed or late work, unless you contact
Blackboard help before the deadline.
Blackboard Information: technical issues related to myASU or Blackboard should be
directed to the help center on myASU. If you have technical issues, contact Blackboard
help FIRST. Then, let your instructor know, and include your Blackboard Support case
number in your email.
Do not leave assignments until late minute, as technical issues will NOT constitute an
excuse for late assignments without a Blackboard Support case number.
Withdrawals and Incompletes: for final dates and more information regarding course
withdrawal, visit https://students.asu.edu/drop-add Incompletes are not available for this
course.
Academic Honesty: ASU expects and requires all its students to act with honesty and
integrity, and respect the rights of others in carrying out all academic assignments. For
more information on academic integrity, including the policy and appeal procedures,
please visit ASU Academic Integrity: https://provost.asu.edu/academicintegrity
Expectations: To earn maximum credit for postings, reference the readings and other
assigned materials with proper citations, discuss main points, ponder questions, and use
academically appropriate language and grammar. If you disagree with an argument,
explain why, and make a counter argument, or propose an alternative understanding.
Posts and responses to posts must be respectful, scholarly, coherent, present an argument
or thesis supported by course texts, or reputable outside sources. Late postings are subject
to a penalty. Your postings and responses will be good training for your final
project/paper, for which you will pose a question, present a coherent thesis and support
your arguments with reliable sources.
To Succeed in this Course: Utilize the required materials and explore the suggested
supplemental materials, i.e. extra Podcasts, blogs, and videos. You should complete all
required readings, view PowerPoints, respond to all Discussion Board prompts, complete
all assignments, and of course- submit your final project/paper. Manage your time wisely.
Post ahead of the deadlines. I strongly suggest that you maintain either an e-journal or a
traditional journal to take notes, to record questions and new vocabulary, and to develop
emerging ideas throughout the course. This will help you with your postings, responses,
your journal reflections, and your final paper. Check Blackboard and your ASU email
frequently so that you not miss course announcements and reminders. Begin thinking
about your final paper during the first weeks of the course, and meet suggested deadlines
for progress. Ideally, the final week will be used for revisions.
Supplementary Materials: I will provide some supplemental readings, and links to other
recommended materials, but students will be in charge of accessing them at their
discretion, according to level of interest, available time, and inclination.
Our weekly academic schedule will run Monday through Sunday. Weekly assignments
are due Sundays by midnight. Final Project/Paper is due Friday, April 27th by Midnight.
________________________________________________________________________
Week 1- (3/12-3/18)
Intro video
Intro PowerPoint- “What’s religion doing in popular culture?”
Reading- Drawn to the Gods, Introduction, Chapters 1 and 2 (pgs.1-103)
Short Supplemental Reading-Daniel Miller, “McDonald’s Truly Happy Meals.”
(provided)
Podcast- The Religious Studies Project, Interview with David Feltmate
Assignment- See Discussion Board for Prompt (You must respond to at least one
classmate) 60 pts. possible
_______________________________________________________________________
Week 2- (3/19-3/25)
Video-Lecture and short: “The Indian Store” (posted)
PowerPoint- “Religious and Racial Fault lines in Feltmate’s America: Does Humor help
us out?”
Reading- Drawn to the Gods, Chapters 3, 4, 5 and Conclusion (pgs. 104-221)
Podcast-Dharma Realm: “Media Representations of Buddhism”
Assignment- See Discussion Board for Prompt (You must respond to at least one
classmate) 80 pts. possible
________________________________________________________________________
Week 3- (3/26-4/1)
Video- Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam
PowerPoint-“Transgressive Religious Space in Popular Culture”
Reading- Muslim Rap, Halal Soaps, and Revolutionary Theater, Introduction (1-24) and
Part One (27-111)
Assignment- No Discussion Board this week; instead, you will be writing a two to three
page analysis. Details in the Week 3 folder. 100 pts. possible
________________________________________________________________________
Week 4- (4/2-4/8)
Video-Monira Al Qadiri, “Ramadan Soaps: The Workers will not be Televised” and
“What would Jesus Buy? - Reverend Billy and Choir Raid Mall of America”
PowerPoint- “Did someone slip Dakwah (or Revolution) into this entertainment?”
Reading- Muslim Rap, Halal Soaps, and Revolutionary Theater, Part Two (115-204)
Assignment- See Discussion Board for Prompt (you must respond to at least one
classmate) 80 pts. possible
Week 5- (4/9-4/15)
Video-lecture
PowerPoint-(W)rapping up
Reading- Muslim Rap, Halal Soaps, and Revolutionary Theater, Part Three and
Afterword (207-280)
Assignment- No Discussion Board this week; instead, you will be writing a three to four
page analysis. Details in the Week 5 folder 200 pts. possible
_______________________________________________________________________
Week 6- (4/16-4/22)
Video-“Professors Bun B & Anthony Pinn Talk Religion and Hip-Hop Course on Ebro in
the Morning!”
PowerPoint-“Religion as Art”
Reading-Religion in Hip Hop, Preface, Introduction, Chapters 1-7.
Podcast-Combat Jack Show Podcast, “The Bun B and Dr. Anthony Pinn “Religion and
Hip Hop” Episode
Assignment- See Discussion Board for Prompt (You must respond to at least one
classmate) 80 pts. possible
________________________________________________________________________
Week 7 (4/23-4/27) Please note that this is a short week!
Video-lecture
Reading- “Religion in Hip Hop and Beyond: A Divine Struggle?” Chapters 8-14,
Afterword
Final Project/Paper Due: 4/27 See details in Final Project/Paper folder.
Final Grades will be posted by May 5th.
ASSIGMENT BREAKDOWN
Introduction Discussion Board and Response to Classmate (Week 1) 60 pts.
Weekly Discussion Board and Response to Classmate (Weeks 2, 4, 6) 80 pts. x 3 weeks = 240 pts.
Assignment Paper One (at least 600 words) 100pts.
Assignment Paper Two (at least 900 words) 200 pts.
Final Project/Paper 400 pts.
Total points possible = 1000 pts.
GRADING 1000 points scale