Revision of the author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago.

Includes bibliographical reference (pages 257-264) and index.

Part I. Karl Barth's theology of culture. 1. Geistproblem and Kulturproblem : Barth's response to Schleiermacher -- 2. "Serious" questions about "true words" in culture : Barth's approach to culture in CD IV / 3 -- 3. Re-creation and recreation : Barth's eschatological perspective on culture -- 4. Encounter in freedom, unity in play : Barth's hermeneutic of culture -- -- Part II. Toward a Barthian theology of popular culture. 5. Affirmation or abomination : Barth and popular entertainment -- 6. Summoned to play properly : honest work and the theologian of popular culture -- 7. "(Titles are hard)" : honest work and the task of popular entertainment.

"This book offers a critical analysis and reinterpretation of Karl Barths theology of culturethe least studied aspect of his workrevealing his significance for contemporary work in theology of culture by applying his approach to the study of popular culture and entertainment. Grounding the study in Barths eschatology, which proves more amenable to secular culture than other models, DeCou shows that Barths approach recognized that the freedom of theology is qualified by the freedom of the Word and the freedom of secular culture. Barth therefore offers a middle way for evaluating and analyzing culture and religious forms. This book thus opens up a new avenue of interpretation of Barth and applies the insights of Barths theology in fresh ways to the structures of contemporary culture and its products" -- Publisher description.