{"nodes":[{"node":{"nid":"76771","title":" The Mormon Giant: Wrestling with Religion in 20th Century America","campus":"Tempe campus, Online event","locations":"Biodesign Institute Auditorium","college_unit":"Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, Division of Humanities, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Center of Muslim Experience in the US","department":"Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict","field_cost_value":"Free","event_price_level":"Free","asu_events_price_desc":"Free","body_summary":"","full_body":"\u003Cform action=\u0022https:\/\/specialevents.asu.edu\/ereg\/newreg.php?eventid=759622\u0026amp;\u0022 autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 enctype=\u0022multipart\/form-data\u0022 id=\u0022form\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022lead\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.themormongiant.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Mormon Giant\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E explores the unexpected relationship between religion and professional wrestling in the 20th century.\u003C\/strong\u003E A \u201clive documentary,\u201d this film, presented with live narration and musical accompaniment, focuses on wrestlers who performed using \u201cMormon\u201d-themed gimmicks.* In wrestling, performers are cast as \u201cheels\u201d (villains) or \u201cfaces\u201d (heroes), roles meant to provoke strong reactions from audiences. The project shows how Latter-day Saint depictions appeared in these roles across North America and abroad, and how such portrayals influenced, and were influenced by, public perceptions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Mormon Giant also traces changes in the ways Latter-day Saints were represented in American popular culture, while exploring how religion and entertainment influence each other, shaping the stories societies tell about belief, identity and community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E* \u201cMormon\u201d was widely used during the period the film examines, but is no longer the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/guide.churchofjesuschrist.org\/3-4-using-the-name-of-the-church?lang=eng\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Epreferred term\u003C\/a\u003E today.\u003C\/h6\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThis event is part of the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca style=\u0022box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(140, 29, 64);text-decoration:underline;\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/csrc.asu.edu\/spirituality\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpirituality and Public Life Initiative\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E, made possible by a generous donation to the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict. The initiative highlights the importance of spirituality to the ethical formation of persons and citizens, and to the institutions of public life that are vital to human flourishing.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Chr class=\u0022copy-divider\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAbout the presenters\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022img-fluid none\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/g\/files\/litvpz3506\/files\/inline-images\/Dave%20Walker%20headshot%20circle%20crop.png\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\u0022054df83e-0a60-40d2-8674-f719c7c52d6f\u0022 data-entity-type=\u0022file\u0022 alt=\u0022David Walker headshot\u0022 width=\u0022220\u0022 height=\u0022220\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.religion.ucsb.edu\/people\/david-walker\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Walker\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the film\u2019s author and narrator, is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His research explores religious history, popular culture and the American West, examining how religion, media and history shape cultural imagination.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/form\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022img-fluid none\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/g\/files\/litvpz3506\/files\/inline-images\/Tim%20Albro%20headshot%20circle%20crop.png\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\u002212863efa-f459-4bc0-99a8-b1ca6c51f88b\u0022 data-entity-type=\u0022file\u0022 alt=\u0022Timothy Albro headshot\u0022 width=\u0022220\u0022 height=\u0022220\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EDJ, \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/therapists\/tim-albro-jacksonville-fl\/215530\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETim Albro\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E, is a licensed clinical social worker and experimental musician based in Jacksonville, Florida. His live musical accompaniment deepens the film\u2019s emotional resonance.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Chr class=\u0022copy-divider\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ELogistics\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp data-key=\u0022154\u0022\u003EThis event is hosted by the\u003Cspan style=\u0022-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(25, 25, 25);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, \u0026quot;Nimbus Sans L\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Liberation Sans\u0026quot;, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;\u0022\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca style=\u0022-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(140, 29, 64);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, \u0026quot;Nimbus Sans L\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Liberation Sans\u0026quot;, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration:underline;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/csrc.asu.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\u0022box-sizing:border-box;font-weight:700 !important;\u0022\u003ECenter for the Study of Religion and Conflict\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and will take place on the ASU Tempe campus \u003Cspan style=\u0022-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(25, 25, 25);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, \u0026quot;Nimbus Sans L\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Liberation Sans\u0026quot;, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;\u0022\u003Ein the \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca style=\u0022-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(140, 29, 64);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, \u0026quot;Nimbus Sans L\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Liberation Sans\u0026quot;, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration:underline;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/g.co\/kgs\/1WQGZYu\u0022 title=\u0022Biodesign Institute, Building B\u0022\u003EBiodesign Institute Auditorium\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(25, 25, 25);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, \u0026quot;Nimbus Sans L\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Liberation Sans\u0026quot;, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;\u0022\u003E (BDB-B105)\u003C\/span\u003E, and will be live streamed through the Center\u0027s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/youtube.com\/@asu_csrc\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EYouTube\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;channel and on\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/video.ibm.com\/asutv\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EASU Live\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Cspan style=\u0022-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(25, 25, 25);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, \u0026quot;Nimbus Sans L\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Liberation Sans\u0026quot;, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;\u0022\u003EWhether you plan to participate via livestream or in-person, we appreciate you taking a moment to register, which is \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cstrong style=\u0022-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(25, 25, 25);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, \u0026quot;Nimbus Sans L\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Liberation Sans\u0026quot;, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:700 !important;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;\u0022\u003Erequired \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(25, 25, 25);display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, \u0026quot;Nimbus Sans L\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;Liberation Sans\u0026quot;, FreeSans, sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;\u0022\u003Efor this event. Your confirmation and reminder emails will provide detailed directions to the venue, including parking information or key livestream details.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe event includes a screening of The Mormon Giant with live narration by David Walker and live soundtracking by Timothy Albro. Following the documentary will be audience Q\u0026amp;A and a reception offering light refreshments.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4 data-key=\u0022166\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong data-slate-leaf=\u0022true\u0022\u003ERegistration details:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFree and open to all.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/specialevents.asu.edu\/Giant\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERegister\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;to guarantee your seat.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClasses and groups are welcomed to attend! Please\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/csrc.asu.edu\/contact\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Econtact us\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;directly with your request\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","phone":"480-965-7187","contactname":"Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict","email":"csrc@asu.edu","delta":"0","alias":"https:\/\/asuevents.asu.edu\/event\/giant?id=0","ticketing_rsvp_txt":"Register today","ticketing_rsvp_txt2":"","ticketing_rsvp_url":" https:\/\/specialevents.asu.edu\/Giant","ticketing_rsvp_url2":"","website":"https:\/\/csrc.asu.edu\/","image_url":"https:\/\/asuevents.asu.edu\/sites\/g\/files\/litvpz3506\/files\/2026-03\/Mormon%20Giant%20poster%20image%2C%20with%20Grand%20Wizard.jpg","image_alt":"","image_title":"","start_date":"Apr 23 2026 - 5:00pm","end_date":"Apr 23 2026 - 6:30pm","time_description":"","very_start_date":"2026-04-23T17:00:00Z","very_end_date":"2026-04-23T18:30:00Z","event_types":"Presentation, Film","interests":"Religion|Arts and Creative Expression|Film|Guitar|Popular culture","audiences":"For current ASU students|For donors|For staff|For faculty|For the community","event_units":"Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict|Division of Humanities|The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences|Center of Muslim Experience in the US","event_topics":"Academic events|Inclusion|Free|Open to the public|Arts and entertainment","download":"\/sites\/g\/files\/litvpz3506\/files\/2026-03\/Mormon-Giant-Flyer.pdf","event_map_url":"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/545MBAHCUC3rSveA6","event_map_title":"","event_video":"","location_term":"Tempe campus, Online event","venue_address":"727 E Tyler St","venue_city":"Tempe","venue_state":"AZ","venue_zip":"85281","alias-indexed":"https:\/\/asuevents.asu.edu\/event\/giant?id=0","sport_tag":"","game_type":"","subtitle":"Wrestling with Religion in 20th Century America","season":"","athletic_conference":"","tv_network":"","radio_station":"","wear_color":"","game_theme":"","history":"","history_text":"","related_stories":"","related_stories_text":"","game_notes":"","game_notes_text":"","recap_link":"","recap_link_text":"","live_stats":"","live_stats_text":"","game_time_tba":"No","sda_all_day":"No","opponent_logo":"","related_videos":"","related_videos_text":""}}]}