Day 38. December 4, 2006
Movement 3. Jesus Christs
Lecture 18. Jesus in the Market Place (Part 1)
Preoccupation with the Self in the marketplace has become the hallmark of American consumer culture. The centrality of the consuming Self has infiltrated religion too, notably in the decline of religious denominations and the rise of an individualized spirituality of monadic mega-churches. Depictions of Jesus in the 1970s grew out of increasing cultural emphasis on individuality, self-actualization, and community. Several great musical productions reflect this milieu. Godspell (1973) featured an empty New York City as the central character through which danced Jesus the apocalyptic clown and his motley troupe of followers. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) anticipated today's culture of celebrity sparked by sex and marred by violence. An essentially human and tragic Jesus appears as a celebrity seeking escape from his notoriety. His main message appears as the epitome of consumptive self-absorption: find your own salvation in the world.