The Rosary and the Microphone - Religious Impulse in U2’s Mediated Brand - Nicholas P. Greco
The Rosary and the Microphone: Social Justice and the Stage
The Rosary and the Microphone - Religious Impulse in U2’s Mediated Brand - Nicholas P. Greco
Nicholas P. Greco [+]
Providence University College, Canada
Nicholas P. Greco is Associate Professor, Communications and Media, Providence University College, Canada. He is the author of David Bowie in Darkness (McFarland, 2015) and “Only if you are Really Interested”: Celebrity, Gender, Desire and the World of Morrissey (McFarland, 2011).
Description
This chapter argues that the stage itself is a site of meaning-making. In all of its various iterations, U2’s stage becomes a sort of “global platform,” a site for display which literally travels the world, and a strong semiotic marker for the band’s agenda. It is through stage design and lighting that the band communicates its message, including that of outward care. Furthermore, the stage is the site of the manifestation of Bono’s many personae, performances that serve to attract attention to social issues, and deflect criticism of the band’s complicity.