St. Paul's Cathedral: the theatrical performance of worship

Mass at St. Paul's Cathedral is a prime example of a living and breathing spectacle, as you are immediately immersed into a theatrical display of worship. In Society of the Spectacle, Guy Debord describes the foundations of the spectacle as "the oldest of all social specializations, the specialization of power. The spectacle plays the specialized role of speaking in the name of all other activities. It is hierarchical society's ambassador to itself, delivering its messages at a court where no one else is allowed to speak. The most modern aspect of the spectacle is thus the most archaic" (Debord, 23). The mass at this historical institution fits perfectly into Debord's ideologies of the spectacle, as upon entering the church your own thoughts become silenced and you are immediately engulfed by the melodramatic performance of mass.

   From the grandeur of the architecture, elaborate designs detailed on every crevice, and traditional gowns of the church assembly - each element of the church was purposeful in nature, as it conveyed a sense of religious power and added a vibrant layer to the church. However, the most pivotal contributing element that transmutes worship into a theatrical proclamation of faith is the church choir. The immaculate presence of the choir immerses one into a heavenly performance, as the choir dominants the entire mass ceremony by singing hymns in both Latin and English. Reflecting on my experience at St. Paul's Cathedral, I cannot say that I experienced a spiritual awakening; however, the melodic nature of mass compared to the mass I attend with my family was astonishing, as this mass is not a communal congregation, but rather a celebration of faith. 

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