Charles M. Brown, Ph.D.
Professional Address
Department of Sociology
Albright College
Reading, PA 19612
(610) 921-7865
E-mail (cbrown@alb.edu)
http://faculty.albright.edu/sociology/brownc/
EDUCATION:
Ph.D. (Sociology), Southern Illinois University. Carbondale Illinois (December 2001).
Dissertation: "The Culture of Culture Industries: Art, Commerce, and Christian Faith in the
Christian Retailing and Entertainment Industry."
Committee Members: Joel Best, Chair; Rhys Williams; Mark Schneider; Linda Andes &
William McKinney
M.A. (Sociology), University of South Florida. Tampa Florida (1993).
Thesis: “Apocalyptic Unbound: An Interpretation of Christian Speed/Thrash Metal Music.”
Committee Members: Marco Orru, Chair; Laurel Graham; & Stephen Turner
B.S. (Sociology), Oregon State University. Corvallis Oregon (1990). Graduated with high
honors.
TEACHING AND RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Research
Culture
Religion
Popular Culture
Organizations, Work & Occupations
Teaching
(In addition to those areas listed above)
Introduction to Sociology
Social Problems
Social Theory
Social Movements
Research Methods
Stratification
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Associate Professor of Sociology – Albright College (2001 – Present)
Soc 101: Introduction to Sociology (17 sections)
Soc 201: Social Problems (3 section)
Soc 230: Cultural Sociology (3 section)
Soc 231: Cults and New Religious Movements (10 sections)
Soc 240: Research Methods (7 Sections)
Soc 241: Social Theory (19 sections)
Soc 331: Mass Media & Popular Culture (3 sections)
Soc 333: Sociology of Religion (5 sections)
Soc 335: Collective Behavior and Social Movements (2 sections)
Soc 481: Advanced Social Theory (1 section)
Soc 490: Senior Seminar (2 sections)
Soc J-14: Sport & Leisure (1 sections)
Soc J-334 (Soc 334): Religion and Popular Culture (5 Sections)
CJ 900: Degree Completion Program Social Problems (2 sections)
CJ 930: Degree Completion Program Research Methods (19 sections)
CJ 975: Degree Completion Program Senior Seminar Capstone (18 sections)
Gateway: (Required course for all incoming freshman – 2 sections)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology – Ohio University (1999 – 2001)
Soc 101: Introduction to Sociology (6 sections)
Soc 351: Research Methods (2 sections)
Soc 403/503: Development of Sociological Thought (1 section)
Soc 413/513: Mass Communication (1 section)
Soc 428: Sociology of Religion (1 section)
Soc 298T: Honors Tutorial in Popular Culture & Mass Media (1 section)
Graduate Student Instructor – Southern Illinois University- Carbondale (1995 – 1999)
Soc 306I: Popular Culture in Society (6 sections)
Soc 262: Marriage & the Family (2 sections)
Adjunct Instructor of Sociology – John A. Logan Community College (1995, 1996)
Soc 133: Principles of Sociology (2 sections)
Graduate Student Instructor – University of South Florida- Tampa (1993)
SYA 3010: Contemporary Social Problems (1 section)
PUBLICATIONS:
“Selling Faith: Marketing Christian Popular Culture to Christian and Non-Christian
Audiences.” Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. 2012. 24(1): 113-129
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“Apocalyptic Unbound: An Interpretation of Christian Speed/Thrash Music" Pp. 117-137 in
Religious Innovation in a Global Age: Essays on the Construction of Spirituality, edited by
George Lundskow, 2004. Asheville, NC: McFarland Publishing.
“Elective Affinities of Blues, Spirituals, Secular Thrash, and Christian Thrash Metal.”
International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society. 1995. 8(3): 439-452.
BOOK REVIEWS:
Forthcoming 2010. “There's Never Been a Show Like Veggie Tales: Sacred Messages in a
Secular Market” H-AMSTDY.
“A Consumers’ Republic: The Politics of Mass Consumption in Postwar America.”
Contemporary Sociology. 2004. 33(3): 319-321.
"Baring our Souls: TV Talk Shows and the Religion of Recovery." Symbolic Interaction.
2002. 25(2): 263-265.
“Apostles of Rock: The Splintered World of Contemporary Christian Music.” Sociological
Focus. 2000. 33(2): 239-240.
PAPERS IN PROGRESS AND/OR UNDER REVIEW:
“The Evangelical Environmental Movement: Contrasting the “Call” of Two Social
Movements” with student Jennifer Howells
“Instant Messaging: A Social Phenomenon.” With student Tyler A. Travitz
“Cutting Up With The Girls: A Sociological Study of a Women’s Scrapbooking Club.”
With student Ryan E. Kelly
"Blinded By The "Light"?: Claims and Counterclaims of Protestant Evangelical Popular
Culture As A Social Problem." In Progress.
"Decision Making And The Will of God: The Production of Christian Popular Culture."
In Progress.
"God In The Marketplace: Structure and Ideology in Christian Retailing." In Progress.
“The Moderating Influences of Community and School on the Religiosity/Delinquency
Relationship” with Michael O. Maume and Ryan Long. In Progress.
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“Which Way Should I Go?: How Industry Members Address The Tension Between Artistic
Expression And Traditional Ministry In The Christian Retailing And Entertainment
Industry.” In Progress.
“Faithful Evangelist or Cultural Conformer?: The Problem of Producing Christian Popular
Culture.” In Progress.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS:
“Faith as a Resource: Minimizing Uncertainty in the Christian Retailing and Entertainment
Industry.” (Association for the Sociology of Religion, Las Vegas, NV. August 2011)
“What Now?: The Tension Produced By General Market Ownership of Christian
Companies.” (Pacific Sociological Association, San Diego, CA. April 2009).
“Wise Use Environmentalism: The Interfaith Stewardship Alliance and its Framing of the
Current Environmental Crisis.” (Pacific Sociological Association, Portland, OR. April 2008).
“The Evangelical Environmental Network: Constructing “A Christian Call” for an
Environmental Crusade.” (Midwest Sociological Society, Chicago, IL. April 2007).
“The Evangelical Environmental Movement: Contrasting the “Call” of Two Social
Movements.” with student Jennifer Howells (Society for the Scientific Study of Religion,
Portland, OR. October 2006).
“Instant Messaging: A Social Phenomenon.” With Tyler A. Travitz (The Eastern
Sociological Society, Boston, MA. February 2006).
“Managing Tension Between Religious and Professional Commitments In The Christian
Popular Culture Industry.” (Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Rochester, NY
November 2005).
“Cutting Up With The Girls: A Sociological Study of a Women’s Scrapbooking Club.”
With Ryan E. Kelly (The Eastern Sociological Society, Washington, DC. March 2005).
“Christian Faith as a Cultural Resource: Working in the Christian Popular Culture Industry.”
With James Park (The Eastern Sociological Society, New York, NY. February 2004).
“Enemy at the Gate: Gatekeeping and Censorship in the Christian Popular Culture Industry.”
(The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Norfolk, VA. November 2003).
“Working For God: How Christian Faith Influences Work in the Christian Popular Culture
Industry.” (The Midwest Sociological Society, Chicago, Illinois. April 2003)
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“Selling Faith: Marketing Christian Popular Culture to Christian and Non-Christian
Audiences.” (The Eastern Sociological Society, Philadelphia, PA. February/March 2003)
“Faithful Evangelist or Cultural Conformer?: The Problem of Producing Christian Popular
Culture.” (The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Salt Lake City, UT. November
2002).
“Which Way Should I Go?: How Industry Members Address The Tension Between Artistic
Expression And Traditional Ministry In The Christian Retailing And Entertainment
Industry.” (The Midwest Sociological Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. April 2002)
“The Moderating Influences of Community and School on the Religiosity/Delinquency
Relationship” with Michael O. Maume and Ryan Long. (The Midwest Sociological Society,
St. Louis, Missouri. April 2001).
“God in the Marketplace: Structure and Ideology in Christian Retailing.” (The Society for
the Scientific Study of Religion, Houston, Texas. October 2000).
“Decision-Making And the Will of God: The Production of Christian Popular Culture.” (The
Midwest Sociological Society, Chicago, Illinois. April 2000).
“A Precarious Balance: The Creation and Production of Evangelical Popular Culture.”
(The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Boston, Massachusetts. November 1999).
“Blinded by the Light? Claims and Counterclaims of Evangelical Popular Culture as a Social
Problem.” (The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Nashville, Tennessee. November
1996).
“The Genesis and Stabilization of a Musical Form: Actor Networks and Christian Speed/Thrash
Metal Music.” (The Midwest Sociological Society, Chicago, Illinois. April 1996).
“Apocalyptic Unbound: An Interpretation of Christian Speed/Thrash Metal Music.” (Society
For the Scientific Study of Religion, St. Louis, Missouri. October 1995).
“Elective Affinities of Blues, Spirituals, Secular Thrash, and Christian Thrash Metal.” (The
Midwest Sociological Society, Chicago, Illinois. April 1995).
“The Interpretation of Christian Speed Metal Through The Utilization of Elective Affinities And
Functional Analysis.” (Oregon Academy of Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon. April 1994).
“The Compatibility of Weber's Concept of Elective Affinities and the Actor Network Model in
the Explanation of Christian Speed/Thrash Metal Music.” (Society for the Social Studies Of
Science, West Lafayette, Indiana. November 1993).
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COMMITTEE & COLLEGE SERVICE:
Departmental Chair, Sociology (Albright College) 2005-2009
Professional Council Committee (Albright College) 2008-2010
Alpha Advising Committee (Albright College) 2002-2010
Information Development Committee (Albright College) 2003-Present (Chair 2011-2012)
College Honors Subcommittee (Albright College) 2003-2009
Gateway Committee (Albright College) 2002-2004
Education Policy Committee (Albright College) 2004-2008
Orientation Program Committee (Albright College) 2003-2005
SERVICE TO THE DISCIPLINE:
Book Review Co-Editor, Journal of Religion and Popular Culture 1/2010-Present
Reviewer, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
Reviewer, Review of Religious Research
Reviewer, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography
INVOLVEMENT WITH STUDENT RESEARCH
“The Evangelical Environmental Movement: Constructing “The Christian Call” for an
Environmental Crusade” with student Jenn Howells (Albright Full ACRE Grant awarded to
us Summer 2006. Presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Meetings,
Portland OR., October 2006)
“Instant Messaging: A Social Phenomenon” with student Tyler A. Travitz (Albright Full
ACRE Grant awarded to us Summer 2005. Presented at the Eastern Sociological Society
Meetings, Boston, MA, February 2006)
“Cutting Up With The Girls” With student Ryan Kelly (Albright 1/2 ACRE Grant awarded to
us Interim 2005. Presented at the Eastern Sociological Society Meetings, Washington D.C.,
March 2005)
“Cutting Up With The Girls” With student Ryan Kelly (Albright Full ACRE Grant awarded
to us Summer 2004. Presented at the Eastern Sociological Society Meetings, Washington
D.C., March 2005)
“MTV as a Pop Culture Generator and Promoter” with students Tyler A. Travitz and Kate
Hodge. (Presented at the Eastern Sociological Society, Washington D.C., March 2005).
“Sex and the City and the Gender Ratio” with students Lauren M. Whiteman and Gretchen
Fossett. (Presented at the Eastern Sociological Society, Washington D.C., March 2005).
“Christian Faith as a Cultural Resource: Working in the Christian Popular Culture Industry.”
With student James Park (Albright 1/2 ACRE Grant awarded to us Interim 2004. Presented
at the Eastern Sociological Society Meetings, New York, NY, March 2004)
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“Christian Faith as a Cultural Resource: Working in the Christian Popular Culture Industry.”
With student James Park (Albright Full ACRE Grant awarded to us Summer 2003.
Presented at the Eastern Sociological Society Meetings, New York, NY, March 2004)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Contributor To The "Intersections" Electronic Database
Pearson Custom Publishing (A division of Simon & Schuster). 160 Gould St., Needham
Heights, MA.
May 1999 – January 2000
Duties: I was responsible for putting together the "religion" section of the Pearson
database of readings (entitled "Intersections") for introductory sociology courses.
Specifically, I was responsible for writing up the introductory information for this
part of the database, choosing relevant articles, annotating the articles, and writing
headnotes and the questions for each of the selections.
Editorial Assistant
Social Problems. Southern Illinois University, Department of Sociology, Carbondale, IL.
May 1996 - August 1996
Duties: I was responsible for keeping track of submissions and correspondence with those
who submitted papers and reviews. I was also responsible for the database that
contained records of all submissions and reviews.
Managing Editor
Visual Sociology. University of South Florida, Department of Sociology, Tampa, FL.
August 1991 - December 1992
Duties: Proof-reading and editing, correspondence with those who submitted papers and
reviews, helped with text layout and format.
Research Assistant
Richard Mitchell, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.
October 1989 - June 1990
Duties: Collected, measured, and recorded data for research from various sources including
newspapers, magazines, and microfiche. Analyzed data using statistical analysis
including the creation of system files, defining and assigning variable labels,
computing and recoding variables, and running correlation, scatter gram, and
frequency distributions.
Section Chair Assistant For The Oregon Academy Of Sciences
Richard Mitchell, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
July 1993 - April 1994
Duties: Attended meetings, acted as a liaison between the sociology section advisor and the
steering committee, helped organize the sociology section for the annual meeting,
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kept track of incoming members for the sociology section and recorded necessary
data.
RELATED EXPERIENCE:
Supervision and Management
Open Door Inc., Corvallis, OR.
1993 - 1994
Duties: Worked under the direction of the Rehabilitation Manager to provide selective
placement services to clients whose physical, mental, or emotional impairments
limited their access to competitive employment and who required situational work
evaluation as part of their vocational rehabilitation planning. Developed job
placement opportunities for selected clients. Disseminated information about work
activities to Open Door staff and rehabilitation program information to employers.
Created and maintained individual service plans and client files. Completed and
maintained various client reports for County Mental Health, Vocational
Rehabilitation Division, and relevant others.
Supervision and Management
Oregon Community Support, Corvallis, OR.
Housing for the Handicapped, Corvallis, OR.
1989 - 1991
Duties: Supervised clients in an intensive training home for mentally, emotionally, and
physically challenged adults. Responsibilities included administering drugs, filing
progress reports, utilizing motivational techniques for training, and light counseling.
MEMBERSHIPS:
American Sociological Association
American Sociological Association Culture Section
American Sociological Association Religion Section
Association for the Sociology of Religion
Midwest Sociological Society
Eastern Sociological Society
Pennsylvania Sociological Society
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
Alpha Kappa Delta
REFERENCES:
Scott Paynton, Ph.D., Department. of Communications, Humboldt State University, Arcata,
CA 95521 (707) 826-5433, (stp3@axe.humboldt.edu). Chair of Communications.
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William Miller, Ph.D., Department. of Sociology, Carthage College, Kenosha, WI 531401994. (262) 551-5844, (millerw2@hotmail.com). Chair of Sociology.
Joel Best, Ph.D., Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware,
Newark, DE 19716. (302) 831-2581, (joelbest@udel.edu). Chair of Sociology and
Criminology Department and my dissertation committee.
Rhys Williams, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati,
OH 45221. (513) 556-4717, (williary@ucmail.uc.edu). Dissertation committee member.
Mark Schneider, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale,
IL 62901. (618) 453-2494, (masch@siu.edu). Dissertation committee member.
Leon Anderson, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701.
(740) 593-1350, (andersoe@ohio.edu). Current Chair of the department of Sociology.
Marty Schwartz, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701.
(740) 593-1350, (schwartz@ohio.edu). Former Chair of the department of Sociology.
Richard Mitchell, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
97330. (503) 737-2641, (mitchelr@ucs.orst.edu). Research advisor and coordinator
Laurel Graham, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
33620. (813) 974-2893, (lagraham@luna.cas.usf.edu). Thesis committee member.
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