Anthony Petro: Christianity and the Culture Wars

Anthony is Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame, where he teaches courses in U.S. religious history, gender and sexuality studies, the long 1980s, and visual culture. His most recent book, "Provoking Religion: Sex, Art, and the Culture Wars," examines the history of feminist and queer artists who found themselves caught in the crosshairs of the Christian Right. He is also the author of "After the Wrath of God: AIDS, Sexuality, and American Religion. " Anthony serves as a series editor for the North American Religions book series at NYU Press. Before joining Notre Dame, he was an associate professor of religion at Boston University, where he also served as the NEH Distinguished Teaching Professor and founded the Health Humanities Project.​​In this conversation, Anthony and I discussed the role of artists in the culture wars of the 80s and 90s and the ongoing relevance of material religion in contemporary art. We also shared thoughts on how artists today continue to engage with religious themes, challenge traditional narratives, and address issues of race, sexuality, and power through their work.