Blog 5 Online and Offline Authority in Shaping Meme Messages

      To begin today's blog, I will explain the various genres utilized in today's memes regarding Hinduism, specifically the ones I have chosen for my sample. The first genre that has been common throughout my research are reaction memes. Reaction memes are memes that "react to news stories, events, or popular media images, which are not part of a stock character macro or meme template stock" (lecture). Examples of this include the "Call Me Maybe Meme", meme #1, and the "Hell's Kitchen Meme", meme #3. Each of the characters in these memes come from Popular Media such as popular songs and TV shows. People recognize these characters and react to the message that they are communicating regarding Hinduism. Another genre I have noticed are Stock Character Memes with Religious Themes. Examples of this genre that I have utilized in previous blog posts include meme #2 and meme #4. The characters in these memes are commonly utilized in the meme world and add religious elements to these non religious characters. Viewers of these memes are able to recognize these characters and scenes, making it easy to recognize sarcastic or comedic messages that are used regarding Hinduism. 

      Framing is the means through which messages are communicated through these various memes (lecture). So, it is very important to understand which framing methods are used in Hindu memes. The first framing method that I stumbled upon while researching my two new memes for today's blog post was the framing method of Memes Promoting Religion. Memes promoting religion are memes that promote "shared beliefs. values, and traditions of a religious community" (lecture). This can be clearly seen through the two new memes for today's post. Both memes include images of Hindu gods and promote certain Hindu values. These values include believing in reincarnation and praising cows. By promoting these values, they also promote sharing similar beliefs and living out these traditions in the Hindu community. Questioning memes are also used very commonly in Hindu memes. These are memes that use popular but sometimes negative generalizations  to "draw attention towards a religious contradiction or preconceived notion of that religion" (lecture). An example of this is meme #5. It directly points at a generalization, the Hindu's use of the Bindi, either for comedic effect or to open discussion regarding that tradition of Hinduism. 

       In my opinion, certain values, beliefs, and traditions are consistently either being undermined or affirmed. For example, in meme #1, the tradition of having arranged marriages is undermined. The meme is clearly making a negative comment about this tradition. Therefore threatening the tradition and the authority that promotes this tradition. If people from the Hindu community see this meme and become ashamed of this tradition due to the fact that pop culture is making a negative comment on it, it may lead them to reject the authority promoting this value, and may even lead them to abandon this tradition altogether. Also, bindis are continuously under minded as well. Memes #4 and #5 prove this point. Both memes have a judgmental and sarcastic tone around the tradition of wearing a bindi. But, values like praising cows and the belief in reincarnation seem to have a more affirming message linked to them. There is always comedy used in a positive way. Memes poke fun at the tradition, but are not often negative or judgmental about these beliefs. An example of this can be seen in today's new memes #1 and #2. Both have a positive and comedic take on these topics, while also seeming to affirm these values. When affirming Hindu values, beliefs, and traditions through memes, one is validating their religious authority. When one validates this authority, they seem to also be promoting the authority and the values, beliefs, and traditions as well. When memes are undermining certain beliefs and traditions, they are also undermining the authority. This leads to questioning the authority's leadership and can threaten their position within the religious community.

      In class this week we have learned about religious authority. We have learned that religious authority are people that can influence others in their specific religious community and are respected by the community. I believe that if someone were to read my collection of religious internet memes having learned what we have in class about religious authority, they would think that many of these memes can undermine and threaten religious authority while others remain very neutral and can even promote authority. I think that these portrayals of authority could then influence viewers of digital culture to act a specific way towards Hindu religious leaders. 

MEMES USED IN PREVIOUS BLOG POSTS:

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

NEW MEMES: 

1. 

2. 

Works Cited Photos New Memes:

1. http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/36/36bfe505b9a60bebb3f8e59d30e95aa0aab6b4ea430260eff682ad88edf99a56.jpg

2. https://www.google.com/search?q=cows+are+sacred+to+us+that+means+so+is+your+mother&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS760US760&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjmz5DY16LXAhUR4mMKHSNxAS0Q_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=974#imgrc=3iY
gvcuRC-w_5M:

Works Cited Photos Old Memes:

1. https://pics.me.me/hey-i-just-met-you-and-thisis-crazy-but-our-1284515.png
2. http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/14/146d80b6eb40d754f52143a4c00dc3a9cf1a73d37369b3aaf867fe13b3001c7f.jpg
3. http://www.bruceonpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Hindu-beef-650.jpg

4. https://www.google.com/search?q=oh+you+wear+a+bindi%3F+Please+tell+me+about+your+hindu+culture&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS760US760&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi_kNO866LXAhUY6mMKHduhDN4Q_AUICigB&biw=1019&bih=868#imgrc=LXYApwasqSWDWM:

5.  http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/cb/cb7ca6dd5969391b3c516b94cbc3dddcf8684cd4c2d25d7f2bf6a309dbb5e2d7.jpg