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Från Helvetets Djup till Hitlistans Topp: Sam Smith och Återkomsten av Satanic Panic
Södertörn University, Teacher Education.
2024 (Swedish)Independent thesis Advanced level (professional degree), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
Abstract [en]

This thesis explores the influence and reception of Satanic themes in the music industry, with a particular focus on the 2023 Grammy performance by Sam Smith. It explores how the reception of Satanic imagery and symbolism in music have evolved, drawing comparisons between the Satanic Panic of the 1980’s and current reactions. The presence of Satanic themes in music has become prominent in recent years. In 2023, artists such as Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, and Sam Smith gained significant attention for their incorporation of Satanic symbolism in their work. Sam Smith's performance of "Unholy" at the 2023 Grammy Awards, in particular, sparked extensive debate and controversy, reflecting the enduring tension between artistic expression and public perception. By analyzing public complaints to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding Smith's performance, the study examines contemporary societal attitudes towards Satanism in music. The research highlights the persistent tension between artistic freedom and public sensitivity, providing insights into the cultural and historical context of Satanic influences in popular music. Additionally, it compares the contemporary response to Satanic themes in music with the "satanic panic" of the 1980s, identifying key similarities. By analyzing these elements, the study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of how Satanism's portrayal in music influences and reflects societal attitudes.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024. , p. 45
Keywords [en]
religious education, satanism, occultism, satanic panic, religious symbolism, religion and popular culture, religious studies analysis, religious controversy, moral panic, religion in media, religious symbolism in music
National Category
Educational Sciences Religious Studies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-55128OAI: oai:DiVA.org:sh-55128DiVA, id: diva2:1908945
Subject / course
The Study of Religions
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Examiners
Available from: 2024-10-29 Created: 2024-10-29 Last updated: 2025-10-07Bibliographically approved

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CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • harvard-anglia-ruskin-university
  • apa-old-doi-prefix.csl
  • sodertorns-hogskola-harvard.csl
  • sodertorns-hogskola-oxford.csl
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf