Sat 27 Sep 2008
It’s only two weeks away, and I’m giving three presentations. I’ve finished doing the PowerPoint show for the first one, which is on religious podcasting. I’m not offering a written paper so I haven’t prepared one, but you can view the slideshow if you like here and ask me questions about it if you want.
To summarise:
I’m considering religious podcasting in the traditional sense of “gathering around the Word” and how podcasting communities, as “gatherings” change what we think about “Word”, or religious text. I have as a sample American podcasters (from the second type mentioned in the slideshow). My argument is that in the web 2.0 creation and distribution of religious text there comes about a “web 2.0 sensitivity toward Christianity”, in particular:
1. A consideration of the listener as active user and not passive audience
2. A desire for intimate communication rather than widespread coverage
3. A negotiation between an acknowledgement that podcasting communities are “disembedded” and a desire for local contextualisation of the message.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:19
This is a fascinating topic. Here is another angle that I’ve been considering / exploring. In a traditional sermon, the message was only received by a single congregration in a single physical location. The sermon in the form of podcast now is available to anyone, including others who want to use it as a way to judge the theological perspectives of the podcaster. So, how might this impact the nature of authority and autonomy of the podcasting pastor? I am especially thinking of potential review and oversight by other individuals in a given
denomination.
Here is a related example. Issues, Etc. (now another name) was a Lutheran radio show. One thing that they did on a frequent basis was play a recorded sermon. They would work through it with the listening audience, considering it in view of certian Lutheran emphases like Law and Gospel. I would imagine that they sought permission from the pastors before doing this. Nonetheless, the example certainly brings up interesting issues that could potentially impact choice to podcast, content of podcasts, podcaster’s view of church authority, etc. This seems especially true amid those in more conservative Christian denominations.
BTW – I will be in Melbourne Monday morning…in for the Australian Conference on Lutheran Education.
September 28th, 2008 at 14:33
Arrrrgh – I wish I was going to AOIR. ::sob:: But we can’t always have what we wish for. Have a drink for me, and good luck with your presentations.
September 28th, 2008 at 20:01
Hey bdean,
While in podcasting the audience is rather invisible from the podcaster, the same could be said for offline religious communities. In a traditional Sunday morning service the preacher would not always know everyone who is listening to her, and would not hear all the criticisms laid against her at the morning tea or barbecue afterwards. And while she may be considered the greatest authority on religion in that church on that morning, her congregation would almost definitely have other sources of religious information (including podcasters and radio shows) of lesser, equal or greater authority, from which criticisms may be guided.
The small research I’m covering here is on podcasters who consider themselves having no authority beyond their own experience and training. Even though some are ordained people, they are not officially sanctioned to speak in the podcasting arena on religious issues. They do it in their own time and space, and are often reminding listeners of the ‘lack of authority’ in a variety of ways.
So I don’t think the change in media, or sphere of communication, creates a completely new set of authority structures; I think there is a shift but a new challenge to something that’s always seeking equilibrium.
Religious authority and new media is an interesting topic that has growing attention from researchers (especially at the last Conference on Media Religion and Culture in August). If you’re thinking of delving further into it, email me and I can send you some stuff.
September 28th, 2008 at 20:07
Mary-Helen,
Oh man, I was really hoping that I would see you there. I look forward to our annual catch-ups. I should come to Sydney soon and say hello. Maybe November if you’re around.
September 28th, 2008 at 21:26
Right. Have downloaded the slides. Will attempt to skim through them soon – though my own conference writing is reaching an urgent stage. Had some questions about this sort of thing (and social networking) raised at a seminar I did last weekend so I’ll be keen to see what’s in the slides.
September 28th, 2008 at 21:29
Stephen,
I hope it’s of some help. Email or call me if you want to talk about it.
September 29th, 2008 at 18:57
Will do.