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Prince was a spiritual and musical enigma who sought to transcend race and gender through his words, music, and fashion. Raised as a Seventh-Day Adventist and later going door-to-door as a Jehovah's Witness, he expressed his faith overtly and allegorically, erotically and poetically. Theology and Prince is an edited collection on theology and the life, music, and films of Prince Rogers Nelson. Written for academics yet accessible for the layperson, this book explores Prince's ideas of the afterlife; race and social justice activism; eroticism; veganism; spiritual alter egos (with a deep dive into the dark character of "Spooky Electric"); a queer listening of the Purple Rain album; the theology of the Graffiti Bridge film (featuring interviews with co-star Ingrid Chavez and other collaborators), and a story from Texas of a Christian worship service designed around Prince's music in the wake of his passing. Those interested in theology and popular culture; scholars of social justice, racial identity, LGBTQ+ studies, and gender studies; as well as Prince "fams" will find new ways of viewing Prince's old and new works.
List of contents
Chapter 1 "Could Have Sworn It Was Judgment Day": Prince, Eschatology and Afterlife
Racheal Harris
Chapter 2 "Dear Mr. Man": The Socially Conscious Music of Prince as Black Prophetic Fire
Zada Johnson
Chapter 3 I Am Something That You'll Never Comprehend: A Queer Theological Reading of Purple Rain
Joseph Trullinger
Chapter 4 "Flesh of My Flesh": Prince's Theology of Eros
Emily McAvan
Chapter 5 Parables from the (Animal) Kingdom
Will Stockton
Chapter 6 Dance with the Devil: The Paradox of Prince's Spooky Songs
Stefan Sereda
Chapter 7 Graffiti Bridge: Prince's Sacred Triumph over the Profane
Erica Thompson
Chapter 8 When God Appears, Everything Changes: Prince and Pentecost
Rev. Suzanne Castle
About the author
Jonathan H. Harwell is head of collections and systems and associate professor at Rollins College's Olin Library.
Rev. Katrina E. Jenkins is dean of religious life at Rollins College.
Summary
Theology and Prince explores theology and the life, music, and films of Prince Rogers Nelson. Topics include Prince’s ideas of the afterlife; race and social justice activism; eroticism; veganism; spiritual alter egos; a queer listening of the Purple Rain album, and the theology of the Graffiti Bridge film.
