blog 5- Offline Religious Culture and Political Culture

Offline religious culture and political culture set the basis of the political cartoons as authentic because they are taking real instances where Trump contradicts or disagrees with his religion, Christianity.  The Pope is also drawing from his teachings and knowledge for his opinion on the things Trump says as well.

The online and offline contexts are bridged based off the connection the political cartoons are making with Trump's and the Pope's beliefs in the religion.  Trump claims to be Christian, while the Pope has said Christianity is being welcoming and accepting all and not discriminating against people.  Trump has said he wants to build a wall and separate people from coming in because he believes they are rapist, killers, etc.  He has labeled immigrants as dangerous because of a few other's actions.  The Pope believes in forgiveness and moving forward for a better and more welcoming environment.  These political memes are further examining Trump's actions as they are not lining up with the Pope's idea of Christianity.

blog 3- Online and Offline Contexts of Discourse on Religion & Politics

I have decided to focus my case study specifically on political cartoons, (instead of memes) because there are more details in the pictures I found online relating to Donald Trump and the Pope.  I still want to focus on how the media is making fun of Trump by depicting him as unethical and untrustworthy as the next President of the United States.

There are many political cartoons that criticize Trump from various angles, but he has recently expressed how he feels the election is "rigged" through the biasses of the media.   Trump states,"Remember, we are competing in a rigged election,"at a Wisconsin rally Monday night. "They even want to try and rig the election at the polling booths, where so many cities are corrupt and voter fraud is all too common." These claims of the election being rigged are vital because they could endanger the political system itself by destroying the trust of the electoral process.

He also goes onto tweet "The election is absolutely being rigged by the dishonest and distorted media pushing Crooked Hillary - but also at many polling places - SAD."  He is constantly belting out the claims, but there is yet to come out with any actual evidence that Trump has made.  

The two political cartoons I choose, act as bridging of online context based on the fact that Trump has stated he feels the media has been bias towards him during the Political campaign and these cartoons are trying to link the how the cartoons are supporting this unfavorable image of him to show/prove he is not who he claims to be.

In this cartoon,  Trump is depicted as the big bad wolf, he is making the claim that Climate change is a hoax and is wearing buttons that say, "Build a Wall" and "White Lives Matter."  The wolf is viewed as devious and with a hidden agenda, whereas the Pope is seen as a savior for the helpless lambs who are behind him.  The Pope is shown here as the one who is in the right and the title of the cartoon is named, "The Shepherd..."

 

The other political cartoon I choose is of Trump and the Pope and the big hand behind Trump is acting as "God."  I thought this cartoon was particularly comical and interesting because Trump is trying to go against  (to some) the most holiest man in the world.  Pope has his God to back up and defend everything he says and preaches, whereas Trump does not have the same to back up anything he claims.  The only thing to back up anything he says is himself, which to most, is not very credible or reassuring to hear especially from a Presidential candidate. 

blog 2- Reflecting of Religious Identity on Memes

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My case study will focus on Trump and Pope Francis and their views during the current Political campaign through memes.  I will specifically use Catholicism and the Pope's views as the center for my case study.  Catholics and the Pope represent and stand by their beliefs very throughly.  I personally am a Catholic and have completed Baptism, Confirmation, etc.  Growing up it was a very strict Religion that had key beliefs including Pro Life, care for the sick, fighting for the poor, etc.  The Pope is the leader and guide to informing the public on social issues and religious issues as well.  Recently, Trump has said he was a Christian to try to connect to a US religious cultural tradition.  He is trying to build favor by claiming to be a Christian as a strategy for advancing public policy.  The meme I chose on the left show the Pope declaring all that the Church believes in and even incenuates he should run individually.  This meme is particularly funny because he does have should a strong follower base and belief system, yet he is the Pope and can not run.  The meme on the right shows the Pope on the left showing a cross as a symbol of worship and the right shows Trump with a "T" that assumes he believes and listens to only himself.  Trump will say what he wants to say, but in the end the people can only trust in what he does by his actions, not words.  He says he is Christian, yet he does and believes in things that are not always correct with the Christian belief system.  Overall, I thought these memes presented the political election in a funny and eye opening revelation regarding politics and religion. 
 

blog 1- Trump and Pope Francis

This Abstract Proposal will focus on the political memes of Donald Trump related to the Pope Francis and how he criticizes Trumps’ through a religious standpoint. Specially, how Trump issued a press statement claiming, “No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man’s religion or faith.”  The memes make fun of Trump’s religious hypocrisy in wave with the Pope.  Trump is only okay with questioning someone’s faith when he does it himself.  Trump also emphasizes himself as being very important and creditable when it comes to some of his political stances, but Pope Francis knocks down all of his creditability through these memes. These memes reinforce the idea that Pope is held at a high standard and people look up to him for guidance and wisdom. Pope Francis’ “stamp of approval” is rejected through these meme related to Trump because he is shown doing the complete opposite of what the Pope believes and preaches about regarding the word of God.  Instead of honoring and making God at the center of his political campaign, Trump has made himself the center of attention.