Theology, Religion, and The Office

Beauty in Ordinary Things

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Edited by Daniel J. Cameron

Type: Studies
Subject: One Film > The Office (TV Series)
Keywords: TV Series, religion
Publishing date: 2025 (February 15, 2025)
Publisher: Fortress Academic
Collection: Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture
Language: English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Hardcover • 258 pages
6 x 9 inches (15 x 23 cm)

ISBN

978-1-9787159-3-6

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Book Presentation:
Theology, Religion, and The Office: Beauty in Ordinary Things explores the enduring impact of the hit NBC series The Office, which, seven years after its official end, remained the number one streamed TV show with a staggering 57 billion viewing minutes, outpacing its closest competitor by 45%. The Office has made an indelible mark on popular culture, paving the way for beloved series like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation, and The Good Place. Beyond its witty humor and memorable characters, this book questions whether the show's value extends beyond mere comedy, and delves into the deeper lessons and insights it offers. As an addition to the Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture series, the book invites readers to consider the theological and philosophical dimensions hidden within the ordinary settings of this fictional Pennsylvania paper company. This volume has gathered a diverse group of scholars from theology, religion, and related fields providing a unique theological and religious perspectives on The Office.

About the Author:
Daniel J. Cameron serves as the Bible Department Head and Director of Spiritual Life at Chicago Hope Academy (IL, USA).

Press Reviews:
On one level, The Office is simply a workplace comedy, a mockumentary along the lines of This is Spinal Tap. As David Cameronrsquo;s edited collection shows, though, through exploring the normally banal routine of unsatisfying and often undignified work at a failing paper company, viewers catch glimpses of deep human meaning making, the fostering of unlikely and significant relationships, and the abiding value of finding ldquo;beauty in ordinary things.rdquo; Whatrsquo;s seen through these glimpses are key ingredients embedded in religious cultures and ripe for theological examination. In this volume, the reader is treated to a conference room meeting in which such theological ideas like sin, redemption, and community are examined, as well as perhaps unexpected issues such as workplace diversity, womenrsquo;s power, and the prophetic activity of Michael Scott. Fans of The Office who are interested in how the series can be mined for theological explorations, as well as how it depicts and treats religious identities and practices, will find much to enjoy here. -- Dan W. Clanton Jr., Doane University

See the publisher website: Fortress Academic

See The Office (TV Series) (2005–2013) on IMDB ...

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