Jesus Will Fix It, After While: The Purpose and Role of Gospel Music in Tyler Perry Productions

Abstract

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once stated, “music is the universal language of mankind.” Its powers of communication are recognized in every segment of society and used to transcend barriers of culture, class, race, religion, and generation. Nowhere is this perhaps more prevalent than in popular media. Music sells products, makes our ride to work tolerable, tells us when the leading lady is dying (or the monster is behind the door), and often, influences our perception about information received. Music can be, and often is, used to manipulate feelings about and interpretations of images, particularly in contemporary culture. Religious themes and imagery are no exception, and music plays a significant role in how religious and theological beliefs are translated and transmitted in the media. This chapter seeks to explore how music, specifically gospel music, is used to present religious and theological themes and influence the perception and reception of these themes in Tyler Perry productions.