From modernity to memes: Reexamining visual culture as a Christian vehicle

This article examines the expanding field of research on religious memes. Alongside a brief overview of current scholarly directions, it proposes new methodological avenues for studying memes that converge at the intersection of religion and internet humour. Drawing on a range of theoretical perspec...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Johnson, Jonathan W. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2025
In: The Australian journal of anthropology
Year: 2025, Volume: 36, Issue: 2, Pages: 305-317
Further subjects:B Aesthetic
B religious art
B MEME
B Social media
B internet culture
B poster
B Convergence
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Description
Summary:This article examines the expanding field of research on religious memes. Alongside a brief overview of current scholarly directions, it proposes new methodological avenues for studying memes that converge at the intersection of religion and internet humour. Drawing on a range of theoretical perspectives—from Walter Benjamin's reflections on modernity to H. Richard Niebuhr's typologies of religious engagement—it introduces fresh conceptual frameworks for analysis. Historical analogues of visual mass media from other periods of convergence are also explored, including the work of early 20th century Chinese Christian artists and contemporary Hong Kong activist artists, highlighting how visual culture has long served as a site for negotiating religious meaning in times of social transformation.
ISSN:1757-6547
Contains:Enthalten in: The Australian journal of anthropology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/taja.70025