Toward a Counternarrative Theology of Race and Whiteness

Studies in Philosophy of Race, Science Fiction Cinema, and Superhero Stories
1. Auflage 2022
ISBN: 978-3-030-99345-0
Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Buch, Englisch, 192 Seiten, Format (B × H): 148 mm x 210 mm, Gewicht: 276 g

Reihe: Radical Theologies and Philosophies

This book argues that “race” and “whiteness” are central to the construction of the modern world. Constructive Theology needs to take them seriously as primary theological problems. In doing so, Constructive Theology must fundamentally change its approach, and draw from the emerging field of Philosophy of Race. Christopher M. Baker develops a genealogy of race that understands “whiteness” as a kind secular soteriology, and develops a counternarrative theological method informed by resources from Philosophy of Race. He then deploys that method to read science fiction cinema and superhero stories as cultural, racial, and theological documents that can be critically engaged and redeployed as counternarratives to dominant racial narratives.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Baker, Christopher M.

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Strafrecht Kriminologie, Strafverfolgung
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie Westliche Philosophie: Transzendentalphilosophie, Kritizismus
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction 

Chapter 2: Constructive Theology and Philosophy of Race, Part I

            Introduction

            Genealogy of “Race” and “Whiteness”

            Falguni A. Sheth and the “Technology of Race”

            Linda Martín Alcoff and the “Future of Whiteness”

Chapter 3: Constructive Theology and Philosophy of Race, Part II 

            Introduction

            George Yancy: Rendering “Whiteness” Visible

            Charles W. Mills and White Epistemological Ignorance

            Emmanuel Chuckwudi Eze and “Vernacular Rationality

Chapter 4: Race, Whiteness, and Science Fiction Cinema

            Introduction

            Theological Method and Film

            Racialization and Representation in American Science Fiction Cinema

            “Structured Absence”: When Worlds Collide and 2001: A Space Odyssey

“Bad Blood”: The Birth of a Nation

            Post-Racial Eugenics: Blade Runner and Gattaca

            Conclusion

Chapter 5:  Race, Whiteness, and Superhero Stories

            Introduction

Scott McCloud’s Hermeneutic of Comics

            Superheroes: Grant Morrison’s Supergods

            Dan Hassler-Forest: Superheroes and Neoliberalism

            Aldo J. Regaldo: Superheroes and Modernity

            Adilifu Nama: Black Superheroes and Counternarrative Possibilities

            White Savior Motifs

            “How Hard Is It for a White Man to Enter the Kingdom of Wakanda?”

Chapter 6 Conclusion

Über Autor(innen)

Christopher M. Baker holds a PhD in Theology from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, USA and teaches Philosophy and Religious Studies at College of DuPage, USA