Post 2: How Memes Present Features of Religion

Kirsten Jacobson 
kirsten.jacobson123@gmail.com

The main strategy I plan on using in order to select memes for study is going to be to gather the memes themselves from Google images, using that source consistently, and only taking memes from the first couple of rows that appear from the search. My reasoning for this is that the first few rows presented on Google images, or any Google search appear to contain the most relevant content and content from more reliable sources (not made by an individual person and put on their personal account but accessible through a larger platform like Pintrist etc.,)
            Through the memes I gathered for my last blog post as well as the ones presented with todays, the Buddhist rituals revolving around notions of transcendence seem to be rather clear.  Members seem to derive their meaning internally though mediation and eternal peace. The closer one is to inner peace and further away from wanting worldly possessions (tangible and non) the closer they are to Buddha and Nirvana.
            Specific practices highlights are that of meditation and prayer, both individual and in a group setting, but always silent and with closed eyes for true concentration. A belief depicted is that of reincarnation or the belief in more than one life.
            I believe these specific beliefs and practices are being emphasized because they are central to the overall practice of being Buddhist. Prayer and mediation appears to be the most prominent part of ones journey in the Buddhist faith and is thus the most topical for a meme to be centered around.

            Overall, I think that religion in my case study is being presented in a light and humored way. These memes show Buddhist as a peaceful people who believe in prayer and internal peace to find their Nirvana and that the idea of a singular life is comical.

Memes
Link to memes



Comments

  1. Soup Twin-1October 24, 2017 at 8:24 AM

    Good observation. Remember to talk about each new meme individually in your weekly analysis and also draw on course readings and lecture in your analysis. Also you need to clarify what is the focus of your study, memes the present Buddhist priests or the Buddah, memes that focus on a specific belief?

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