Humorous Portrayals of Celebrities in the Mass Media During the 2021 Papal Visit to Slovakia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15826/csp.2023.7.1.225

Abstract

This contribution presents the results of research focused on an analysis of humorous visual portrayals of visit of Pope Francis to Slovakia in September 2021. The study presents a qualitative content analysis of 43 memes taken from the social media environment and eight caricatures from selected print media outlets. The aim of the analysis of the memes and caricatures was to identify the topics that framed the papal visit before shifting the focus to the question of how the memes and caricatures present Pope Francis and selected Slovak political figures within this context. The study will identify the characteristics ascribed to the Pope and to Slovak politicians in the media and the tonalities (either positive, negative, or neutral) emphasized in the studied memes and caricatures in relation to the Pope, politicians, Slovak society, and the Church.

Author Biographies

Petra Polievková, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Slovakia

Petra Polievková, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Journalism, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Slovakia. She completed her doctoral studies in Journalism at the Catholic University in Ružomberok. She focuses on media language and media education in the context of formal and non-formal education, while being interested in the ethical dimensions of media communications.

Terézia Rončáková, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Slovakia

Terézia Rončáková, PhD, worked as a journalist at the SITA news agency, Katolícke Noviny and Vatican Radio in Rome after finishing her studies in Journalism at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Comenius University in Bratislava (2002). In 2006, she defended her dissertation at the Catholic University in Ružomberok and habilitated at the Faculty of Mass Media Communication at the University of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava in 2012. Her academic interests focus on journalistic and religious styles and journalistic genres. She lectures at the Department of Journalism at the Faculty of Arts and Letters of the Catholic University in Ružomberok. She is a member of the Ladislav Hanus Fellowship, the Association of Catholic Journalists Network Slovakia and the Forum for Public Affairs.

Hedviga Tkáčová, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Slovakia

Hedviga Tkáčová, PhD, ThD, is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Journalism, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Slovakia. She completed her doctoral studies in Journalism at the Catholic University in Ružomberok. She also graduated in Theology from Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia and in Religious Studies from Prešovská University in Prešov, Slovakia. Her pedagogical and research activities focus on new media, pastoral opportunities through new media, media manipulation, academic education, interreligious dialogue, and cultural diversity education.

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Published
2023-04-10
How to Cite
Polievková, P., Rončáková, T., & Tkáčová, H. (2023). Humorous Portrayals of Celebrities in the Mass Media During the 2021 Papal Visit to Slovakia. Changing Societies & Personalities, 7(1), 188–212. doi:10.15826/csp.2023.7.1.225
Citation Formats
Issue
Vol. 7, No. 1 (2023)
Section
Articles