Concepts of Meme Rituals and Stereotypes

 Concepts of Meme Rituals and Stereotypes

Jodi Osborne

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Morris Schottenstein

November 25, 2016

  

Concepts of Meme Rituals and Stereotypes

Memes have been used for years now as a way of expression. This expression and voice of words through pictures, images, and videos can be viewed in a negative or positive light. It is more of an eye of the beholder type of deal. When considering which rituals and stereotypes can be involved within the meme or meme making process, we must dive deeper into what a meme can have within the bounds of itself and what other factors are being incorporated into the photo to make it something more than just a photo. When we solely focus on the influence that meme’s have on today’s society, we can factor in numerous concepts to truly grasp how these animated cartoons, images, and pictures have fully integrated into mainstream society and how the rituals and stereotypes that accompany meme’s affect the popular culture of today’s citizens.

Rituals

Meme’s do not solely hold any type of particular ritual or connection in today’s society that would pertain to religion or specific ceremonies that may hold a higher rite within the world. Meme’s instead may use religious beliefs, photos of religious figures, or places that others may hold in a higher right than others to obtain or gain fame, likes, or shares, via the internet to become a sort of pop culture celebrity.

People want fame and to be well known and recognized around the globe. Creating meme’s and pictures that are able to relate widely with common beliefs, norms, and values, gives that particular meme creator a hand up in the fame department. Most meme’s created around religion seem to be either poking fun at, or symbolizing a sort of feeling about how one may view that particular religious character.

For example, let’s use the following meme, Figure-1, to demonstrate the influence of meme’s in today’s society involving the use of a religious figure. This image involves a photo of the religious figure Jesus Christ. In the following image, Jesus is shown at The Garden Tomb, or better known as the death and resurrection place of Jesus Christ. The caption includes the following message, “People followed me before Twitter,” (Figure-1). This meme is insinuating that the people of the world followed Jesus literally before the coming of technology in which now you are able to follow people’s actions, status, and daily journeys via the internet application of Twitter. Although some may find humor in the following image, others may take extreme offense to the image. Depending on the particular person creating the meme, the setting in which the meme is being spread or shared, and the people receiving the image, this particular meme could have been created to inspire other or have simply been created to make fun of, or poke fun at this particular religious figure.

The individuals creating the meme and the individuals receiving the image will ultimately determine the status of the image. If the meme is considered funny or uplifting, most people on social media will tend to share, like, or spread the image future creating more buzz and popularity. If the image is deemed offensive, hurtful, or negative the image will most likely not receive very much attention, unless the popularity of the image is solely based on the negative portrayal of the religious figure, then can also reach mass amounts of popularity from people searching for the image personally or to find the image to attempt to take the image down. Various groups have differing opinions, values, and beliefs and while one group may find a meme acceptable, enjoyable, funny, or likeable, another group may find total distaste in the image. Weather a meme will receive any type of social status will depend on the community, or social group it is being shared with

Stereotypes

Meme territory comes with a variety of stereotypes not only with what a meme is, but the person conjuring the meme, as well as, stereotyping being held in high regards within the use of memes and the pictures, images, or videos they withhold.

The meme itself has an already classified field of uncertainty. People do not feel too sure about the images memes hold because of the negative or positive impact they hold when being shared. Some people choose not to dive into the world of memes at all because they can be viewed as crude, lude, harmful, or distasteful in nature depending on the content of the meme. Memes also hold the stereotypical view as humorous. Most memes created are in good nature and simply created because of the way one may feel about a particular topic, subject or theme. Memes can be considered relatable in nature and enjoyable. They were originally created to bring joy and happiness to the people it was being shared with. As with good there is generally a negative condonation as well. Once memes had started to become so extremely popular and mainstream and viral, others chose to use the meme glory in a negative light and to turn something that was simple and funny into something that can now be viewed as negative or nasty in nature.

Today the images and photos being liked and shared are anything but simple and sweet. Memes today have seemed to take a turn for the worse because in today’s society we are seeing more memes that are making fun of others and putting hurtful, or harmful messages against one another to ultimately hurt or create a tension between people, communities, and now society. Although memes are being created by one person, that one meme can travel as far as the eye can see and now around the globe. Once a meme is created there is almost no stopping it. Once something is put into virtual reality, social media, and mainstream society, and popular culture, it is very hard for those things to simply go away.

When thinking about stereotypical measures, we can look at the meme maker in their own environment and see all of the fixed ideals that people tend to have about them in general. Most people tend to think that meme makers are people who have been hurt by others in society and using meme’s as a way to get back at those who have caused them pain in the past. People generally also seem to picture a meme maker as a teen or grown man that is still living in his parents’ basement, possibly a computer geek, or bullied kid that is now looking for ways to revenge himself. Although this may be the general population’s thoughts and preconceived notions about meme makers, this is not always the case. Some meme makers are simply paid to make memes and work for internet corporations, social media venues, and popular culture bloggers.

Many kids are now using memes as a way to bully others or seek revenge on those they have felt some sort of negative light against and instead of society lifting itself up, it is almost taking a turn for the worst and crumbling under the weight of its own production. Teens have been found taking yearbook photos of classmates and turning them into meme’s that are hurtful and harmful. Meme’s started off as being something that way relatable in nature and has now become almost a breeding ground for negative insight.

In conclusion, meme’s have started off positive and funny, but have become something that people are tending to stay away from. No one wants to share a photo that potentially hurt someone’s feelings or become harmful to others. Although, there still are meme makers that do not choose to use their capabilities for evil, it seems as though memes have taken a turn for the worse. I hope that in the near future those who are making memes choose to make the photos with others in mind and choose to make memes that everyone can once again enjoy.

  

References

ChristianFunnyPictures. (2013, June 5). PEOPLE FOLLOWED ME BEFORE TWITTER. Obtained from  http://christianfunnypictures.com/2013/06/people-followed-me-before-twitter.html on November 27, 2016. 

ICON

When you think of the word icon, what comes to your brain? Literally, what is the very foremost thought that you can imagine and what does that vision entail? Do you think of a specific person, maybe a musical artist such as, Madonna to be exact. Do you think of a painting like that of Vincent Van Gogh's which was thought to have been so magnificent that it has endured throughout centuries? Maybe you think of a particular place, for example, the tomb that Jesus has risen from. What I envision an icon to be is a person, place, or thing that will remain valid, forever enduring, and always consistent in every new era to come. An icon is a person or thing that can be seen in any regard as holding some type of symbolism in society. Madonna, for example, is first and foremost, a singer, but is also a songwriter, actress, and is her own boss when it comes to business. Madonna has paved the way for so many other artists and is nothing short of iconic. She has held numerous number one titles in music and her edgy and trendy style sense is still current in today's society. Many of today's artists give Madonna credibility when asked whom they were influenced by. Not only has she become the mother of pop music, but is still valid and accepted in today's society. Another iconic legend is Vincent Van Gogh. Even though Gogh has long since past, his art works are studied, copied, portrayed, and held up to very high standards in the art community. Many people aspire to paint and draw the way he has done and his works are still being seeked out today. The art Van Gogh has produced in his time are used as examples in today's classrooms and his paintings are placed in museums for people to study, examine, and admire. Another icon that still has a large impact on today's mainstream society is Beethoven. Although Beethoven was born in the 1700's, his musical genius still endures and lives on today. Anyone can find Beethoven's impact on today's generations through looking at the musical classes offered in schools, museums/ historical venues, and by wandering into cubs of the elite. Beethoven's music is almost seen as sacred by the way it is cherished and passed down from one generation to the next. His musical talents have influenced many in the music industry and have even been seen as beneficial in the science field. Beethoven's works are still being cultivated today and will be in the future to come.

My main reason for choosing the three icons I have, Madonna, Vincent Van Gogh, and Beethoven, is because these people have been seen as almost misunderstood in the beginning of their careers, but are now viewed as absolute icons. The icons I have chosen had to make a way for themselves in the industry they chose. They were not so much welcomed into their passion, but paved the way for themselves and did not apologize for doing so. After they broke down the doors, they continued onward to create works that were seen in the past as well as the present as magnificent. Each icon holds some sort of standing in today's society that deeply impacts our culture. Children today are listening to Madonna's music, creating copies of Van Gogh's artworks in their classrooms, and developing an ear for fascinating sounds and rhythms in middle and high schools around the globe. These people are icons because they are globally known and recognized for their works. Madonna is from Detroit, Michigan, but goes around the globe with her dozens of organizations and aid programs to help others. Vincent Van Gogh is from the Netherlands, but we study and read about his work here in The United States. Beethoven was born in the Electorate of Cologne, now Germany, but is being studied and his works carefully maintained here in The United States. 

These specific icons all have and hold a particular meaning to me. Madonna was always an artist that I listened to growing up. This was mainly due to the fact that my mother listened to her music and I had no say so on what was played on her radio, but the fact that we shared that time together listening to her music has held a sort of impact in my life. I was presented the music that my mother listened to in her youth and this very same artist is current in today's musical stream and is still making hit records today. It is hard for me to believe that an artist can last as long as she has and can still make music that today's generation would find "hip" or in style, but her way of keeping up is amazing. she is innovative, imaginative, and in my eyes will not be slowing down anytime soon. I look forward to what new ventures, ideals, and fads Madonna will create in the future and will always keep in the back of my mind that my mother was the one that introduced us. Vincent Van Gogh will always hold a place in my heart. I will forever remember learning about his mysterious ways and his innovative passion to create works that were different, but sane in a sense to him. I can not tell you how many times I have personally attempted the "Starry Night" painting and can not even begin to count how many times you hear his name in the educational atmosphere. Van Gogh is long past, but yet somehow they keep his relevant in today's society. A mainstream example would be when I was younger and had somehow gotten ahold of a comforter set adorned in the Starry Night painting which was most likely sold at a Walmart at some point in time. This just goes to show that if the product is in demand, the companies will produce it. Now Beethoven on the other hand did not have a direct impact on my life, but seemed to always somehow sneak his musical endeavors into my ears at different points in time. The first I can recall would be school of course when  you have to learn sound patterns and learn the different musical symbols and what they all mean. The second encounter would be driving down the road and switching the stations around to see if there is anything better on the radio than the channel of streaming commercials you are having to listen to. Skipping around and then coming across a station that plays classical music that you stop and listen to for a second because you have heard through the grapevine that classical music has been scientifically proven to make babies smarter while there in the womb. Then you realize you are no longer a baby and flip the station because your brain is already fully developed. The third time I remember running into this musical genius is when I was pregnant, walking through the baby isles and the end cap playing a musical medley of Beethoven which can be purchased on a cd for your child to listen to. And the final recurrence of Beethoven would be now and it is all due to my children. This is simply because they watch Nick Jr. which plays the show "Little Einsteins" and constantly plays classical music genres to teach children about the vast musical capabilities they can achieve. So in other words, I could not escape Beethoven even if I tried. They have always found a way to reinvent these artists and have keep them relevant way past their time. 

An icon should be something that can be seen in a sense as forever lasting or eternal. Of course I do not mean that people will live for an eternity, what I do mean though is that their principles, works, stories, talents, virtues, etc., will be forever lasting. For example, the story of Jesus can be seen as iconic in a way because the story that happened so long ago is still being told and held in high regard. I am not saying this is the only religion of course being held in high relation, but I am simplifying using this as an example of something that is iconic. Jesus was found to have been born around 4/ 6 BC and the story is still alive and well in today's culture. People have founded churches, started organizations, passed down stories, wrote books, drawn and created paintings, etc., from something that was so long ago, yet the concept of God and Jesus can still be seen with very large relevance in today's society. So, now that I have gone over my icons and what I feel to be true about the ones I choose, what would you consider a contemporary icon?

Popular Culture: Flannel Fixings

Let's Talk Pop

Popular culture is said to be the study of one particular component of culture. I see popular culture as the popular, or, well known/ overall agreeance, of ideals, fads, beliefs, customs, attitudes, and tastes that could potentially define the people within a society by others that are either a part of that culture, or, by other cultures that do not share any links, ties, or bonds within that group, but are able to define the group based on the ideals at hand.
Business Savvy
There is a need for a direct understanding of popular culture within a business environment and relevance toward my educational goals and career because popular culture is something that basically runs society. Within the business environment, societal groups, organizations, businesses, individuals, etc., use popular culture to determine what needs to be produced, what they will purchase, what attitudes, values, norms, and beliefs will be exuded into mainstream. These trending beliefs, arts, customs, traditions, and attitudes will predetermine the future and surrounding areas towards the next craze and what exactly people will be choosing to satisfy within themselves to fit into the "norms" of society.

Who's idea was it?
Within my present environment, I am able to point out several forms of popular culture around me. There are various things being advertised on television, things we see or witness as a passersby, things we see in our daily ventures, to the computers, phones and tablets we use for recreational and business purposes. 
For example, we can take the cell phone and talk about the applications we are able to download onto them.  Advertisements are being thrown at us on television for apps to purchase in the app-store, along with advertisements that frequently pop up as we are browsing the web. We can also look more into detail by diving into  a particular type of app on the phone, Instagram. People follow and like pictures, videos, and advertisements that others are posting on a daily basis. It is used as a sort of hub for people to advertise, to be in the know, to communicate, and to stay on top of what's trending. It's almost certain that people will follow trends, and fads if it is someone they look up to or idolize is suggesting to do so. Also, friends and family can become a large part f what influences us to do the things we do. People want to fit in along with wanting to fulfil the need for belonging within society. Majority of people want to belong and crave to fill the void with friends, groups, or surrounding peers. Even though there are those that do not wish to interact, talk with, or hang around others, which we may say are introverts, these people will ultimately find themselves having something in common with someone else, or holding values, norms, or beliefs that others as well hold true and in the end they may choose to lean towards the things that they have in common with others and follow trends that they have now found to have in common. For example, music selection, style, and foods. I am not saying that all people will follow fads, trends, or bold statements, but for the majority of people residing on the planet, we just want to belong. The taste of cultures is what drives popular culture and the need to fulfill, within one's own self, the satisfaction of knowing that one will fit in amongst the community, or, society that one is socially, emotionally, and physically a part of.

Future Goals
Within my future career, it will not only be a necessity, but vital for me to have a better educational understanding of popular culture and how it affects people as beings. What we are influenced by, what we hold true, values, beliefs, and norms will all be considered when taking into account the needs of school aged students. Becoming a school Psychologist will allow me to help others, but only after I take into account the ways that students are being influenced. I will be working one on one with students to support them in their own personal capabilities and abilities to learn. I will also help teachers within my district to build upon materials and ideas to best help students reach their full potential within the schooling system. It is essential that I fully understand the students. This includes taking into account what they are influenced by and what exactly is causing them to think, act, and behave the way they do. I will need the ability to think about and reach upon the conclusions that they deem reasonable and effective within their own personal beings. I will be applying tests and relating that information as to why the student may behave, think, or act, or choose to not particulate in particular activities, groups, behaviors, and attitudes towards others or even themselves. The overall goal of my career will be to see students succeed socially, behaviorally, academically, and emotionally and in order to do so, I will be a better understanding of popular culture and how the influences of society can and may possibly already be affecting the way students think, act, and believe things to be.

Popular by Demand
I would consider clothing as an example of a pop culture artifact. I chose a flannel t-shirt because I tend to see a lot of people wear this particular type of shirt. It is now fall and in the fall people tend to dress warmer. It seems as though a lot of people tend to choose flannel shirts when fall comes around.  To me it has become more of a fashion statement than a way to keep warm on cooler days. On the business side of things, companies seem to be producing more of these types of shirts in order to keep up with demand for the specific shirt. With more shirts being produced, it allows elite, popular, and folk cultures to partake in the trend. More production allows for cheaper prices, which allows for more people to afford clothing that may be more costly originally. Almost every store has a variety of plaid flannel shirts to choose from in a variety of colors. On the personal side of things, we can see this becoming a fashion trend and people wanting to wear this shirt as a form of fitting into popular fashion styles then as a use for warmth.