Ketchell Holy Hills of the Ozarks

Religion and Tourism in Branson, Missouri
Erscheinungsjahr 2007
ISBN: 978-1-4214-0243-7
Verlag: Johns Hopkins University Press
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 0 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm

Reihe: Lived Religions

Over the past century, Branson, Missouri, has attracted tens of millions of tourists. Nestled in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, it offers a rare and refreshing combination of natural beauty and family-friendly recreation—from scenic lakes and rolling hills to theme parks and variety shows. It has boasted of big name celebrities, like Wayne Newton, Andy Williams, and Petula Clark, as well as family entertainers like Mickey Gilley, the Shanghai Magic Troupe, Jim Stafford, and Yakov Smirnoff.

But there is more to Branson's fame than just recreation. As Aaron K. Ketchell discovers, a popular variant of Christianity underscores all Branson's tourist attractions and fortifies every consumer success. In this lively and engaging study, Ketchell explores Branson's unique blend of religion and recreation. He explains how the city became a mecca of conservative Christianity—a place for a "spiritual vacation"—and how, through conscious effort, its residents and businesses continuously reinforce its inextricable connection with the divine.

Ketchell combines the study of lived religion, popular culture, evangelicalism, and contemporary American history to present an accurate and honest account of a distinctly American phenomenon.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ketchell, Aaron K.

Fachgebiete

• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft | Kulturwissenschaften Populärkultur
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christentum/Christliche Theologie Allgemein
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziologie Allgemein
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Freizeitsoziologie, Konsumsoziologie, Alltagssoziologie, Populärkultur

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgments
Introduction: "The Moral Vineyards"
Chapter 1. "Temples of God's Own Building": Harold Bell Wright and the Roots of Branson Tourism
Chapter 2. "Hills of Truth and Love": Authenticity and the Sacred in Shepherd of the Hills Country
Chapter 3. "I Would Much Rather See a Sermon Than Hear One": Faith at Silver Dollar City
Chapter 4. Jesus Is "the Greatest Star": The Variety Show and Contemporary Branson Tourism
Chapter 5. "Near Heaven": The Dynamics of Sacred Space in Branson
Chapter 6. Hillbilly Heaven: Labor, Leisure, and the Ozark Trickster
Chapter 7. "The Aroma of God's Spirit": Branding Branson's Future
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Über Autor(innen)

Ketchell, Aaron K.
Aaron K. Ketchell, who writes on American popular religion, teaches at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.