The Highlander

Media Credit: Maricor Coquia Tom Beaudoin, assistant professor of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University, spoke last Thursday on the relationship between pop culture and spirituality.

Last Thursday, February 15, Tom Beaudoin, assistant professor of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University asked "Can Catholics Make Sense of Popular Culture?" Held in the St. John Francis Regis Chapel, Beaudoin spoke to a diverse crowd of students, administration, and other members and friends of the Regis community on just how Catholics, particularly the younger generation, find spirituality.

Beaudoin introduced his topic by recalling moments in pop culture history, such as the "Janet Jackson fiasco." As giggles followed, Beaudoin recognized that pop culture is indeed "something we all experience and know," but seem to disconnect from our spiritual practices. He argued that the lives of the younger generation, however, support a bridge between spirituality and popular culture. Beaudoin explained that events such as a U2 concert are a different venue for students to attain and strengthen their spirituality.

Beaudoin has found that in order to understand how younger generation Catholics are attaining spirituality, a look at popular culture is necessary. Popular culture, he hypothesized, is the spiritual language spoken by "young people."

He said that theologians, however, typically speak of popular culture as "low culture." Beaudoin pointed out unusual similarities in how young people's interaction with popular culture mirror typical notions of attaining spirituality which happen in Mass, for example. He said, referring to the Disney fantasy: "Pop culture seems to provide a different parable, heroes, and saints. Meaning for our younger generation comes first from popular culture."

The lives of the younger generation, he underlined, are immersed in pop culture, and thus, spirituality is not necessarily erased, but attained in a different way. "Remember, making sense of popular culture is complicated. What role does it play in our lives and how do you figure out what it means?" he asked.

He summarized three ideas of how people have tried to explain popular culture's role in spirituality. He said, "The first one is a culture produced for the people." This culture, he explained, is a culture fabricated and sold as a "product." The second one is a "culture of the people." Beaudoin explained this type of pop culture is a symbol of people's values, what is understood to be important by everyone else. And third, he added, "is a culture produced by the people," where individuals utilize what is given to them in making sense of life.

Beaudoin emphasized that the third notion has rarely been used, but needs the most emphasis. He asked: "What are people making of this stuff?" Beaudoin argued that to know and understand the language of pop culture and its influence on the spirituality of the younger generation, it's important to know how the "stuff" of popular culture is being used. What are students taking away from U2 concerts? How are the younger generations making sense of their life through Disney and the like?

Overall, Beaudoin talk raised many questions from attendees. But, he was well received. One attendant smiled: "Well, that was interesting. I'm glad I came."

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