So Why Does This Matter?

Everything displayed and analyzed here is a part of Pop Culture in the Western World. There are many ideas of who the Buddha is, who Buddhists are, how they practice, what they believe, and more. Many of the pieces displayed here depict stereotypes while some of them challenge stereotypes. No skit, article, cartoon, or movie explains Buddhism completely accurately, and some show only stereotypes and misguided over-generalizations. This website can serve as a reminder that we do not always know the whole story. Buddhism is a religion practiced by millions of people. It is incredibly interesting and the Western world's fascination with and sometimes conversion to Buddhism is a wonderful thing. Remember, however, that Buddhism is not just a theme for movies, a topic for music, or a reason to retreat. After taking World Religions, I feel like I have a solid base for looking at these artifacts with a critical eye and separate true history and practice from poorly interpreted falsities. My hope is that by analyzing  pieces of Western pop culture, I can provide a critical eye for other readers so that Buddhism can be known in a way bigger than its stereotypes.