Religious Rhetoric and Satire: Investigating the Comic and Burlesque Frames Within "The Big Bang Theory"
We suggest The Big Bang Theory television program uses satire, comedy, burlesque, and even intertextual references to offer its perspectives on the "geeky" world of brilliant scientists (and their friends), how they cope with popular culture, and religious and spiritual worldviews. More sp...
| Published in: | Journal of media and religion |
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| Main Author: | |
| Contributors: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group
[2015]
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| In: |
Journal of media and religion
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
The big bang theory (Television program)
/ Religion
/ Spirituality
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | We suggest The Big Bang Theory television program uses satire, comedy, burlesque, and even intertextual references to offer its perspectives on the "geeky" world of brilliant scientists (and their friends), how they cope with popular culture, and religious and spiritual worldviews. More specifically, based on expanded notions of the comic and burlesque frames (Burke, 1961; Appel, 1996) we analyze examples of "religious/spiritual" counter-publics demonstrated in the following characters: Sheldon Cooper, Mary Cooper, Howard Wolowitz, Rajesh Koothrappali, Leonard Hofstader, Penny, Amy Farrah Fowler, and Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz. Applying the Burkean/Appelian notions of the comic frame to a popular culture television show reveals the robust qualities and ever-evolving theoretical applications from rhetoric's rich historical legacy. Rhetorically, The Big Bang Theory presents a mixed but ultimately respectful attitude toward religion and its important role in human development. |
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| ISSN: | 1534-8415 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of media and religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/15348423.2015.1051457 |