Watch This!: The Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism (Religion, Race, and Ethnicity) [Paperback]

Jonathan L. Walton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009 | Series: Religion, Race, and Ethnicity

Through their constant television broadcasts, mass video distributions, and printed publications, African American religious broadcasters have a seemingly ubiquitous presence in popular culture. They are on par with popular entertainers and athletes in the African American community as cultural icons even as they are criticized by others for taking advantage of the devout in order to subsidize their lavish lifestyles.

For these reasons questions abound. Do televangelists proclaim the message of the gospel or a message of greed? Do they represent the "authentic" voice of the black church or the Christian Right in blackface? Does the phenomenon reflect orthodox "Christianity" or ethnocentric "Americaninity" wrapped in religious language?

Watch This! seeks to move beyond such polarizing debates by critically delving into the dominant messages and aesthetic styles of African American televangelists and evaluating their ethical implications.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Watch This! offers a good overview and introduction to both televangelism and African American religiosity. . .Walton clearly and ably explicates just why people are attracted to this form of media.”
-CHOICE

,

"Walton presents a spectacular piece of contemporary scholarship on the Black Church and media. He asserts that his work is foremost a scholarly work in Christian social ethics but the reader will find that it is more than that. It is an attempt to bridge the person in the pulpit, pew, and classroom in such a way that the only song that can be sung is, 'blest be the ties that bind.'"-Homiletic.net,

"Future scholars of the subjects here explored by Walton will return to time and again for footnote and provocation."-Church History,

"[Walton] points to the contrast between the individualized nature of problem-solving in contemporary televangelism and the social justice history of the African American religious tradition. Televangelism, by its very nature, works against the type of corporate religious consciousness that leads to social change and Walton documents this well."-Prism,

"In this groundbreaking work, J. L. Walton moves us beyond the naive belief that televangelism is a territory dominated solely by the white religious right and introduces us to the intricate world of black televangelism... Walton challenges us to examine the relationship between the success of black televangelistic ministries and the failure of more traditional ecclesiastical and political movements to address the needs of those rendered socially invisible in our society. This book is highly recommended for any student of American and/or African-American religious history and religious studies."-Religious Studies Review,

About the Author

Jonathan L. Walton is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Riverside.

Product Details

• Paperback: 283 pages
• Publisher: NYU Press (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814794521
• ISBN-13: 978-0814794524
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For both the academic and the interested, April 19, 2009

By 

Jorden Sharick - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Watch This!: The Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism (Religion, Race, and Ethnicity) (Paperback)

Whether you are familiar with the topic or not, Watch This! works first to orient the reader within the historical nexus of media and religion, and offer an evaluative account of the intricacies that characterize the emergence of African American religious broadcasting. Atop this foundation Walton skillfully constructs a balanced, inventive, and artistic ethical appraisal of the movement which acts to challenge congregant and critic alike.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've read in the study of religion, April 13, 2009

By 

Vincent D. Cervantes - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Watch This!: The Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism (Religion, Race, and Ethnicity) (Paperback)

An absolutely amazing theological approach to study the religion and Black televangelism. Walton structures his book in a brilliant fashion. He begins with introducing historiographical arguments about the roots of African American religious broadcasting; provide a theological and phenomenological account of "black religious broadcasting's constitutive traditions;" and to offer an ideological critique of African American religious broadcasting (pp. 9-14).

As the reader begins to work through the chapters, they are enveloped in the discussions and discourses going on in the study of Black televangelism.

Walton's arguments and details are clear, concise, and critical. This book represents the best of scholarly work being done in the field of Religious Studies.

I highly recommend that anyone with an interested in Evangelical religion, culture, and media to pick up a copy and enjoy!