Popular Culture Review Volume 30, Number 2, Summer 2019 | Page 268

Book Review : Religions Across Television Genres
rizing of language as “ a part of ” rather than “ apart from ” reality ), Valenzano and Engstrom pay close attention to how each character represents a specific religion�from evangelical Christianity ( the motherly African-American character of Shirley Bennett ) to strident atheism ( anarcho-vegetarian Britta Perry ) to creepy cultism ( moist-towelette magnate Pierce Hawthrone , performed brilliantly by comedic legend Chevy Chase , who belongs to the fictional faith known as Reformed Neo-Buddhism Laser Lotus ). It ’ s fascinating to note how this chapter underscores the fresh approach that Community�a show about a community-college study group that boasts a cross-section of every ( wo ) man misfits�brings to TV-comedy writing , a collective endeavor that often results in stale , “ groupthink ” humor . Most sit-coms sound like they ’ re joke-injected by the same writers , but as Valenzano and Engstrom observe , Community ’ s “ complex nature and repeated accolades make it worthy of attention�especially when considered within the context of its satirical treatment of religion ” ( 31 ). Readers familiar with the show will marvel at how deftly and kindheartedly the show treats the subject of religion without ever being saccharine or insulting to its characters and audience .
Orange Is the New Black , a women ’ s-penitentiary drama that has been tagged rather cynically as “ Hogan ’ s Heroes in jumpsuits ,” employs a more controversial approach due to its tragicomic nature , and its ready display of strict Christianity ’ s negative impact on certain characters�like Black Cindy , who converted from Christianity to Judaism . Again , through their close reading of OITNB ( which is in its seventh and final season ), Valenzano and Engstrom categorize the show ’ s four faith-centered themes : religion as character identity , religion as divisive force , religion as con game , and religion as redemptive path . But it ’ s when the authors construe OITNB ’ s
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