From ABC Arts
Artscape: Jedis & Juggalos: Your Census Guide
In preparation for the upcoming Australian census, John Safran scours the globe and hunts down people who blend spirituality with popular culture. The program airs on Tuesday 19 July, 10.05pm on ABC1.
About The Program
The once-every-five-years Australian census is upon us (August 9). Which means the vexed 'What is your religion?' question will raise its head. This, in turn means thousands of pranksters will write down Jedi, Matrixist or Metal Head.
Over the years John Safran has heard academics claim that far from being a joke, young people were combining spirituality with popular culture. Safran wants to hunt down these spiritual innovators. "I thought I'd potter off around the world and try to find people who sincerely and unsarcastically synchronise spirituality with popular culture. Is it good, is it trivialising, is it even spiritually dangerous?"
Safran meets a number of protagonists who use popular culture to make sense of their world. All of them totally believe in the religious theories they have created or interpreted from the films, books or music they have centred their religion around. Jason Faanes AKA Rev Last Rite is in the US Navy and is a dedicated family man. He is also an ordained minister who leads a congregation who find religious symbolism in US rap band, Insane Clown Posse. Rome-based Leo Zagami is also known as Neo Leo. He is a former DJ and record producer. After a drunken night where he ended up naked in an ice bath he had a vision and the religion of 'Matrixism' was born. Mahmoud Shelton converted to Islam at 18. A life-long fan of Star Wars films, he sees strong correlations between Sufism, the branch of Islam he adheres to, and George Lucas's creative works.
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc1/201107/programs/DO1018V001D2011-07-19T220500.htm
