Gaither Homecomings, College Football Reunions, and the Consecration of Cultural History

Although the Bill and Gloria Gaither Homecoming Friends concert and video series is a ubiquitous presence in Christian entertainment, its cultural function and influence are not well understood. This essay argues that alongside the established view of the Homecoming series as an inwardly focused met...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Harrison, Douglas 1975- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: University of Saskatchewan [2010]
In: Journal of religion and popular culture
Year: 2010, Volume: 22, Issue: 3
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:Although the Bill and Gloria Gaither Homecoming Friends concert and video series is a ubiquitous presence in Christian entertainment, its cultural function and influence are not well understood. This essay argues that alongside the established view of the Homecoming series as an inwardly focused method some Christians use to interpret the vicissitudes of evangelical experience, the Homecoming phenomenon also exerts an outwardly shaping force. Drawing on a line of sports reunion videos that share key similarities with Homecoming, this essay traces the emergence of the Homecoming series as a transcultural narrative framework within which to commodify nostalgic re-engagements with the past—both religious and secular.
ISSN:1703-289X
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion and popular culture
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.3138/jrpc.22.3.005