Jerry Springer—The Opera: Its Unintended Message?

Abstract

SummaryJerry Springer—The Opera provoked a storm of criticism from Christians who were offended by its vulgarities and what were claimed to be its caricatures and ridicule of God the Father, Jesus and Mary. This paper argues that, contrary to popular Christian perception, this piece of musical theatre warrants appreciative study. The contentious burlesque portrayal of key characters is set in a broader cultural and historical perspective. Its theological aspects are often profound, although not wholly unproblematic. It is suggested that the production lifts the veil on ways in which Christian doctrine is received by the wider public and that it invites further reflection, particularly around issues of hell and eschatological exclusion.