R. Shea Watts - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by R. Shea Watts

Berkeley Journal of Religion and Theology, 2018

Engaging with Donovan Schaefer’s phenomenological strand of affect theory, Brian Massumi’s politi... more Engaging with Donovan Schaefer’s phenomenological
strand of affect theory, Brian Massumi’s politics of affect, as well
as Sara Ahmed’s analysis of Edmund Husserl’s “table” vis-à-vis the
work of various ritual theorists (Grimes, Turner, Jennings, et al),
this essay explores the intersection of ritual studies and affect
theory by focusing on ritualizing bodies. As examples, I look at the
practice of the Eucharist and the Pentecostal altar call, the
affective politics of Donald J. Trump, as well as protest as
ritualizing. Insofar as ritual includes the social and the bodily,
affect theory provides a lens to look specifically at how bodies can
be corporeally affect-ed by systems of power embedded in and
constituted by rituals. In this way, rituals shapes bodies both
religiously and politically by learning and navigating through
learning and navigating affectively textured worlds.

MAHABBAH: Journal of Religion and Education

This article considers the Eucharist as a framework for communal life. Rather than a place of pri... more This article considers the Eucharist as a framework for communal life. Rather than a place of privilege or exclusion, the table creates an inclusive vision for how the world should be. It is a ritual of imagination and transformation, reaching beyond the symbolic table into a material world of need. Drawing on the work of Clàudio Carvalhaes, as well as the Eucharistic instructions of Jesus and practices of the early church, I explore the political and communal contours of participating in the holy meal. In this way, Eucharist provides nourishment and sustenance for the work of justice in the world.

Kanye West has transformed and transfigured from a young rapper representing the Southside of Chi... more Kanye West has transformed and transfigured from a young rapper representing the Southside of Chicago, to an icon, a rap genius, a god. His persona has continually evolved from his arrival on the Hip Hop scene, leading to his emergence as, “Yeezus." This essay argues for an investigation of Kanye’s theological claims through the lens of his own body, particularly the balance between how he conveys what it is like to be a black man in an American culture plagued by racism and the potential of the black body to assert its incarnate godlikeness in his music. In addition, this essay explores West’s newest record, The Life of Pablo, and its implications for Yeezus. The results of the study highlight Kanye’s evolution—somewhere between “Yeezus,” “black god,” “new slave,” and now, “Pablo” (Paul). I argue that Yeezus represents a deification and The Life of Pablo is a de-deification, as communicated in the words of Kanye himself. 1 Watts: From Yeezus to Pablo: An Existential Theology b...

Berkeley Journal of Religion and Theology, 2018

Engaging with Donovan Schaefer’s phenomenological strand of affect theory, Brian Massumi’s politi... more Engaging with Donovan Schaefer’s phenomenological
strand of affect theory, Brian Massumi’s politics of affect, as well
as Sara Ahmed’s analysis of Edmund Husserl’s “table” vis-à-vis the
work of various ritual theorists (Grimes, Turner, Jennings, et al),
this essay explores the intersection of ritual studies and affect
theory by focusing on ritualizing bodies. As examples, I look at the
practice of the Eucharist and the Pentecostal altar call, the
affective politics of Donald J. Trump, as well as protest as
ritualizing. Insofar as ritual includes the social and the bodily,
affect theory provides a lens to look specifically at how bodies can
be corporeally affect-ed by systems of power embedded in and
constituted by rituals. In this way, rituals shapes bodies both
religiously and politically by learning and navigating through
learning and navigating affectively textured worlds.

MAHABBAH: Journal of Religion and Education

This article considers the Eucharist as a framework for communal life. Rather than a place of pri... more This article considers the Eucharist as a framework for communal life. Rather than a place of privilege or exclusion, the table creates an inclusive vision for how the world should be. It is a ritual of imagination and transformation, reaching beyond the symbolic table into a material world of need. Drawing on the work of Clàudio Carvalhaes, as well as the Eucharistic instructions of Jesus and practices of the early church, I explore the political and communal contours of participating in the holy meal. In this way, Eucharist provides nourishment and sustenance for the work of justice in the world.

Kanye West has transformed and transfigured from a young rapper representing the Southside of Chi... more Kanye West has transformed and transfigured from a young rapper representing the Southside of Chicago, to an icon, a rap genius, a god. His persona has continually evolved from his arrival on the Hip Hop scene, leading to his emergence as, “Yeezus." This essay argues for an investigation of Kanye’s theological claims through the lens of his own body, particularly the balance between how he conveys what it is like to be a black man in an American culture plagued by racism and the potential of the black body to assert its incarnate godlikeness in his music. In addition, this essay explores West’s newest record, The Life of Pablo, and its implications for Yeezus. The results of the study highlight Kanye’s evolution—somewhere between “Yeezus,” “black god,” “new slave,” and now, “Pablo” (Paul). I argue that Yeezus represents a deification and The Life of Pablo is a de-deification, as communicated in the words of Kanye himself. 1 Watts: From Yeezus to Pablo: An Existential Theology b...