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Material Culture

The physical objects that people create and use to communicate meanings and values.

Commodity Fetishism

The social relationship between people is transformed into a relationship between commodities, leading to an obsession over material goods.

David Chidester’s definition of religion

A way of being human in a human place, focusing on the functions of religion in society.

Cosplay

Dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game, particularly popular in fan conventions.

Clifford Geertz’s definition of religion

A system of symbols that establishes mood and motivation and creates an order of existence.

Authentic Fake

Objects or products that are labeled as genuine but are actually not, serving a function in culture.

Transcendent

Existing beyond the limits of ordinary experience.

Sacred Product

An item that holds special significance or reverence in a specific cultural or religious context.

Toys as Material Culture

Objects that reflect cultural meanings and facilitate social belonging and identity among communities.

The Hero's Journey

A narrative framework where the hero goes on an adventure, faces and overcomes a crisis, and returns home transformed.

Spirits and Material Culture

Objects that have imbued spiritual significance or relevance in certain cultural contexts.

Rites of Passage

Ceremonial events that mark important transitional periods in a person's life, often associated with changes in social status.

Spider-Verse

A multiverse within comic book lore and film, particularly featuring different versions of Spider-Man.

Fortress of Solitude

The secluded hideaway of Superman, symbolic of solitude and self-reflection.

The One and Only Spider-Man

A concept questioning the singular identity of Spider-Man amidst many versions across different media.

Crisis of Identity

A state of uncertainty about oneself, common in narratives involving superheroes.

Fetishization of Objects

Imbuing ordinary objects with extraordinary value or significance, often linked to consumer culture.

Integration

The process of returning from an altered state to a sense of connection and safety.

Identity Experiences

Lessons learned from personal identity experiences that contribute to wisdom and living.

Post-9/11 Cinema

Cinema reflecting global threats and moral anxiety, often depicting a binary view of 'us' vs. 'the other'.

Double Consciousness (Du Bois)

The internal conflict experienced by subordinated groups in an oppressive society, balancing multiple identities.

Primordialism

An outdated view of stable ethnic identity defined by traditional cultural elements.

Commodity Fetishism (Marx)

The perception of commodities with supernatural qualities and symbolic value, obscuring labor relations.

Actor-Network Theory (ANT)

A framework that sees objects and networks as integral and shaping social dynamics without outside influence.

Collective Effervescence

A shared energy or excitement in a community that creates a sense of unity and magic, often during rituals.

Ritual Theory

A framework for understanding the significance of rituals and their role in cultural practices, including rites of passage.

Stages of Transformation (Arnold van Gennep)

Three phases in a rite of passage: Separation, Liminality, and Incorporation, marking personal transformation.

Victor Turner's Liminal Phase

The transitional phase in rituals where participants experience the unknown before returning transformed.

Metaphysics

The branch of philosophy exploring the nature of reality and existence.

William James' Four Marks of Mystical Experiences

1. Ineffability, 2. Noetic quality, 3. Transiency, 4. Passivity, describing key characteristics of mystical experiences.

Idealism

The philosophical view that reality is fundamentally mental or spiritual, with physical matter being less real.

Dualism

The philosophical concept that reality consists of two different substances: matter and spirit.

Mimetic Desire (Rene Girard)

The concept of desire being socially constructed and modeled through the relationships between individuals.

Positive Mimesis

A positive form of imitation where role models inspire ideals and aspirations outside one's social circle.

Afrofuturism

A cultural movement combining African diaspora elements with futuristic themes, notably seen in Black Panther.

Religious Parallels in Superheroes

Comparison of superhero narratives to religious themes, such as T'Challa as a god-like figure.

Bruce David Forbes

Scholar discussing the relationships between religion and popular culture.

Christ Figure Archetype

Characters like Kal-El reflecting messianic qualities and moral teachings in narratives.

Ninian Smart’s 7 Dimensions of Religion

Framework encompassing practical, experiential, narrative, doctrinal, ethical, social, and material dimensions of religion.

William James’ Four Marks of Mystical Experiences

Characteristics of mystical experiences: ineffability, noetic quality, transiency, and passivity.

Coping with Trauma

Process of managing identity destabilization and flashbacks due to traumatic experiences.

Post-9/11 Cinema

Film reflecting global threats and moral anxieties, depicting binary moral interpretations.

Altered Consciousness

Transformed states of awareness, often induced by trauma or significant experiences.

Integration

The process of returning from an altered state to a sense of connection and safety.

Utilitarianism

Ethical theory suggesting the best action is one that maximizes overall happiness.

The Trolley Problem

A thought experiment in ethics that poses a moral dilemma involving choices about life and death.

Generational Trauma

Cumulative emotional effects of trauma passed down from one generation to the next.

Dual Identity

The experience of holding two distinct identities, often seen in hybrid cultural contexts.

Batman as a Symbol of Justice

Representation of moral and ethical ideals within Gotham's society.

Joker's Philosophy of Chaos

The idea that morality is fluid, challenging clear distinctions between good and evil.

Mimetic Desire

The theory that desire is socially constructed through interactions with others.

Coca-Cola as Culture

Example of how material culture shapes identity and community through consumerism.

Hagiography

A legend about a person so virtuous that it necessitates storytelling, often seen in superheroes or divine figures.

Hegemonic Culture

Dominant or ruling cultural norms in political or social contexts, relevant in popular culture and religion.

Types of Film Analysis

Methods to dissect films, including Semiotic, Narrative, Cultural/Historical, and Mise-en-scène Analysis.

Semiotic Analysis

Interprets signs and symbols within films to reveal deeper meanings, such as a two-headed coin.

Narrative Analysis

Examines story elements like character arcs and plot structure in film narratives.

Cultural/Historical Analysis

Analyzes how films reflect or challenge the cultural context of their time, such as colonization themes.

Mise-en-scène Analysis

Focuses on visual elements such as lighting, setting, and costumes in film.

Worldmaking in Religion and Film

Explores the creation of alternate worlds and ethical dilemmas in narratives, as described by S. Brent Plate.

Film as Religion

Concept that cinema addresses moral dilemmas and serves as a framework for narratives, noted by John C. Lyden.

Black Panther (2018)

A film embodying Afrofuturism and African diaspora themes, reflecting the intersection of culture and identity.

Rastafari Movement

Founded in Jamaica, promoting pride in African heritage and a belief in a messiah from Africa, paralleling T'Challa's role.

Yoruba Traditions

West African spiritual practices involving orisha, gods, or invisible supernatural beings.

High Culture

Culture transmitted through written forms aimed at a limited, elite audience.

Folk Culture

Culture passed down orally, often limited in scale due to communication methods.

Ray Browne's Definition of Pop Culture

Pop culture as a 'way of life' arising from urbanization and mass media influences.

Russel Nye's Concept of Mass Culture

The emergence of mass culture in the late 18th century, linked to democratization and distribution.