To celebrate our 75th birthday we are presenting exceptional works from Meanjin’s past that have defined and challenged Australian literary culture. To provide a meaningful counterpoint we are presenting an accompanying series of critical and creative works from contemporary writers and artists.These reevaluate the ideas behind these works in a contemporary context, giving them new relevance.

In the following piece Rebecca Sheehan responds to Dennis Pryor’s article ‘Rock of Ages: Grooving the Blood of the Lamb’ first published in Meanjin Volume 31 Issue 3 1972.
It might seem counterintuitive, but we live in a world that Christian rock built more than rock and roll ever did. Before it became a theatrical sensation, Jesus Christ Superstar was a rock opera album that incorporated Christian themes into rock culture and music. It became an international hit in 1971, the same year that Godspell the musical was first performed. Although neither of these had intended to proselytise, media reports put them in the same milieu as the burgeoning ‘God rock’ and ‘Jesus people’ movements—just as Dennis Pryor did in his 1972 review of their Australian stage productions.