Well, CBA has wrapped up in Denver – no one from this house went this year – we usually don’t go unless it’s on the way to or near family (read: Atlanta or Orlando). And for me, going once every three years or so is enough to observe the trends, get ideas, do hard thinking about the differences between the Catholic and evangelical markets, and get alternatly inspired and depressed.
Interesting memories of CBA’s – saw Hal LIndsey in a wheelchair on the show floor, then that night went to a Bahama Breeze, and saw him in a lovely tropical shirt, enjoying his (probably non-alcoholic) tropical drinks, sans wheelchair. A miracle! (In all fairness, perhaps he’s got leg problems, and those shows are massive). Met Tammy Faye Bakker, have a photo of us together somewhere. Seen Jenkins, LaHaye, Michael’s seen Chuck Norris with weirdly dyed hair (is Chuck Norris at CBA or is the CBA around Chuck Norris?), Kathy Lee Gifford in an amazingly low-cut shirt, etc.
Here’s one of my reports from the 2004 CBA in Atlanta and here, in which I reflect on the really fascinating confluence of events – the CBA was going on in the Congress Center, and many participants were staying in the same hotel as we were, of course, a hotel which was hosting, at the very same time, the national convention of the National Federation of the Blind. The Christians and the blind – and since there was a pilgrimage to Milledgeville (Flannery O’Connor’s place) as well…lots of food for thought, and wondering, "What would Flannery say?"
Anyway, what got me started on this was tmatt’s highlight of the LATimes coverage of the convention by Stephanie Simon – a reporter we’ve noted here before for her excellent reporting on the abortion issue. A reporter to watch.
As it always is, the tension is in figuring out the relationship of the Christian and the Christian product to the world. When you go to a CBA, what you see is the Christian evangelical pop culture aping secular pop culture. I entitled one of my 2004 posts "The Maker’s Guide to a Great Body and a Hot Marriage." In Orlando, one of the big items was a Body for Life type book the cover of which exactly aped the cover of the real Body for Life. Chick-lit was big both times I went, with the same kind of pastelly-covers with stick-type figures in stilletos, carrying shopping bags.
Most merchandise missionaries say they don’t expect such miracles. They hope instead that their products will light a spark. When a co-worker helps herself to a fish-shaped mint, maybe she’ll remember she hasn’t been to church in years. When a hunter sees the crucifix on his buddy’s cap, perhaps he’ll feel comfortable asking about Jesus.
"It’s about picking people up at their level of interest," said Bill Anderson, president of CBA, a national trade organization representing more than 2,000 Christian stores.
The retail show offered Christians plenty of ways to provoke such discussions.
Skintight scoop-neck T-shirts for teenage girls bore slogans that practically begged those not in the know to ask questions. "Wood & nails — a powerful partnership," one read. On another: "Life without you is not an option."
Would-be evangelists can carry little plastic key chains printed with the slogan "Got Christ?" They can serve their child’s birthday cake on a paper tablecloth bearing the message "May God Bless You Today and Always." And for rebels with a cause, Good Newz Temporary Tattooz lets kids stamp their love for "JC" on their arms — and rub it off the next time they shower.
Discussion may ensue in which we will, as we invariably do, wonder about the meaning of all this, and then wonder where Catholic culture stands in relation to it and why Catholic marketing and publishing is such a tiny speck in comparison to this behemoth. And at least one of us will say, "Well, at least they’re trying to evangelize!"
(Which they are.)
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