The characteristic of
networked religion most clearly seen in this case study is that of convergent
practice, which is combining traditional religious rituals with outside sources
to create a new form of spiritual practice. Catholic Memes uses convergent
practice to mix “institutional religion with forms of popular piety, combining
the sacred and the profane into personal forms of religious expression”
(Campbell, 2011, pg 15). By taking a popular meme platform and combining it
with a Catholic message, Catholic Memes is creating a new expression of lived
religion and a new reinterpretation of social media to express faith. “Convergent
practice highlights that the internet offers a tool box of new possibilities
for religious expression and connectedness that enhance individuals’ religious lifestlyes…”
(Campbell, 2011, pg. 16-17).
For example, taking the bear from the meme
Confession Bear and placing him in the confessional from the TV show The
Simpsons with the priest checking his watch illustrates that even
Confession Bear goes to confession, and since his meme is so popular, it would
probably take a while! Combining a popular TV show, a known meme character, and
the Catholic sacrament of confession, a humorous narrative is created and put
forth to be enjoyed by the community
Another example of this is taking the popular meme platform of the "Hey Girl" Ryan Gosling meme and having him suggest reading a Catholic teaching on love and marriage. By combining the idea that Ryan Gosling is the perfect man that the "Hey Girl" memes portray and editing it to fit a Catholic image the meme has now been transformed into that of the perfect Catholic man and is now a sign of religious expression.
No comments:
Post a Comment