Religion and TV revision

1. Religion and TV revision The Key theme you need to understand well – how is religion portrayed in The Simpsons, in Soaps and in Religious Specific Broadcasting. How effective is it? How fair is it? How accurate is it? What effect might it have on the audiences?

2. Key texts – Soaps Episodes of The Simpsons Examples of Religious-Specific Broadcasting (both terrestrial and satellite) The Gospel According to the Simpsons The Bible and The Qur’an House of Lords minutes on religious broadcasting

3. Aims of the unit (according to textbook) • The way that religious and moral themes are explored in soap operas • The way The Simpsons portrays religious belief and practice • The purpose of religion-specific broadcasting • The effect of the portrayal of religion within these areas is intended to have on the target audience • How effective each area is in portraying religiuos ideas

4. Soaps Make sure you can refer to more than one soap (include The Vicar of Dibley if you wish) Make sure you can explain as well as describe: if you’re speaking about homosexuality in East Enders, for example, make sure you can refer to Islamic teaching; if you refer to women priests as they are portrayed in The Vicar of Dibley, then be able to refer to Biblical teachings about male headship and modern arguments about the ordination of women. Religious themes can include things such as forgiveness; adultery etc etc. Do they stereotype groups? Are they realistic (remember the definitions of realism)? Are they a good way to learn about religion and religious values? (you had a hand-out about the House of Lords on this topic) Are they replacing organised religion in any sense? What can’t/don’t they do that traditional religion can do and does? Who was Mary Whitehouse – she may well be a good source when you are trying to argue about their worth or lack of?

5. The Simpsons Know a number of episodes that explore religious themes/behaviour/practise. Know some characters well, especially the key characters or those who are explicitly religious. That would include Homer and Marge; Lisa; Rev Lovejoy; Ned Flanders, Krusty the Clown and Apu. Be prepared to refer to religious events, practices and worship - be able to analyse them Do they treat religious belief in a too light-hearted way; are they prejudiced in favour of Christianity? In what sense do they satirise faith? What does the word mean? Give some examples? BE ABLE TO QUOTE THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS

6. Religious-specific broadcasting What are its key features? Can you identify some examples? Think of terrestrial and satellite television. What is the intended impact on the audience of such programmes? Should television promote ‘partisan’ (one-sided) views (what about programmes promoting a certain religious perspective? Is that ok?) How/why are such programmes regulated? Should they be? OFCOM

7. Integrity – that sense of being a complete person; the same on the outside as you are on the inside. The opposite of a stereotype. A stereotype – a fixed, commonly held notion or image of a person or group, based on an over-simplification of some observed or imagined trait of behaviour or appearance. A caricature – a likeness of anything so exaggerated or distorted as to appear ridiculous. Satire- Satire is a genre in which human or individual weaknesses and shortcomings are held up to ridicule or criticism through comedy. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humour in itself so much as a witty attack on something of which we are meant to disapprove. Sometimes satirical comedy is quite savage, sometimes it can be very gentle. The watershed – a time (9pm) when material which may be of adult content – sex; drugs; violence etc, can be legitimately shown on the grounds that children should not be watching.

8. Mary Whitehouse Women priests.