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Meme Culture Influence on Popular Culture Name Institution Course Professor Date Meme Culture Influence on Popular Culture In this research proposal, I want to delve into understanding a culture that has become a major part of our live and has experienced bans in some countries- meme culture. Meme culture is a growing culture created by memes. When it first started, memes were an aspect of the internet that people stumble upon, find themselves amused, and share the amusement with someone else (London, 2019). However, memes are now a common part of people’s social media lives. The word memes originated from biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976.

It is a combination of the Greek work mimeme, which means imitated thing, and gene (Truszkowski et al., 2020) . According to Dawkins, memes refer to the spread and imitation of ideas across society through the internet and the developing sense of humor. Today, memes thrive in black comedy. They use a language particular to Generation Z and millennials. Further, this generation use meme culture to escape harsh realities of life.

This generation uses technology to lighten the weight of the absurd future. For example, when a Gen Z remarks “yikes†to irreversible environmental changes to escape existential dread (Habib, 2020). Thus, memes involve a movement defiant to past ways of thinking and defined by humor. The meme theory will be part of the research on this culture. This theory provides people transfer skills, ideas, or behaviors through the imitation process (Hurren, 2019).

The growth of memes in modern culture has been largely influenced by social media. People share ideas and create social movements through the internet. For example, the MeToo movement blew up in 2017 after the tweet with the #MeToo allowing people to voice their opinions on the movement. Other movements include environmental movements like plastic bag man. Therefore, meme culture has led to positive cultural changes and the meme theory explains further.

I will discuss the generation and ages for memes. For millennials and Generation Z, the social networking sites are not foreign to them because they are aware of how to navigate this space. Also, they know that the older generations have also started embracing the spread of memes, for example, one can identify the use of memes by older generations on platforms like Facebook (London, 2019). The spread of memes has grown because anyone can make one, which makes it easier to reach people of all ages. I will also consider the public opinion about memes.

The public has different opinions about memes. Some argue that most people receive memes positively, for example, the growth of meme pages and app like 9GAG that is a platform purely meant for sharing memes worldwide. These apps and pages have massive following and are very successful. Further, some of these platforms have become the primary or secondary source of income for administrators through promotions and advertisements (London, 2019). However, some people are for the opinion that some memes have dark humor and can be offensive to certain audiences.

In addition, there has been scientific controversial surrounding memes. Overall, the meme culture has become a major part of internet culture even when some people dislike this culture. Reference Habib, A. (2020, Mar 20). The Philosophy of Meme Culture. Retrieved February 16, 2021 from: NUVO.

Hurren, M. (2019, Mar 31). The Meme Theory. The Public Ear. Retrieved February 16, 2021 from: London, M. (2019, Mar 20). Meme Culture: What Is It?

Retrieved February 16, 2021 from: Truszkowski, W., Rouff, C., Akhavannik, M., & Tunstel, E. (2020). Memes, culture, the Internet, and intelligence. In Robot Memetics (pp. 15-29). Springer, Cham.

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Meme Culture Influence on Popular Culture

Introduction

In our contemporary digital landscape, meme culture has emerged as a potent force reshaping communication, creativity, and social engagement within popular culture. Memes—thought-provoking images, videos, gestures, or phrases altered and disseminated widely across social media platforms—have transcended mere entertainment to become tools for social commentary and community identity. Devised from the concept introduced by Richard Dawkins in 1976, which encompassed the spread and imitation of ideas (Truszkowski et al., 2020), memes today play an intrinsic role among Generation Z and Millennials. This paper aims to analyze the influence of meme culture on popular culture, examining the characteristics, social impacts, and transformations induced by memes and the divergent perspectives toward them.

Understanding Meme Culture

The rise of meme culture is intricately linked to advancements in digital technology and social media platforms' evolution. Previous generations grappled with some form of jests or caricatures, but the rapid acceleration and freedom provided by the internet have redefined humor's landscape. Today, memes are a linguistic and visual language of youth, serving as a coping mechanism in an increasingly disquieting world (Habib, 2020). These snippets of humor often engage with dark themes, tackling existential crises, social issues, and mental health (Habib, 2020). For instance, generations often leverage memes to address environmental degradation, economic uncertainties, and political disenfranchisement, reflecting shared sentiments and social values.

The Mechanics of Meme Generation

Generating a meme has become an accessible art form, with anyone possessing basic technical skills able to create and share content. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok have enabled rapid dissemination and reproduction of ideas through memes (London, 2019). Herein lies the impact of meme culture on popular culture: the mechanism of meme-making exists not only as a source of individual expression but also fosters collective movements. A particularly notable instance was the surge of the #MeToo movement, which harnessed the power of memes to facilitate discourse on sexual harassment (Hurren, 2019). Consequently, memes have emerged as instruments for amplifying voices and fostering social change.

Meme Culture Among Generations

Research articulating the generational divide regarding meme consumption reveals that while Generation Z and Millennials create and disseminate memes zealously, older generations also engage with this medium albeit with varying comprehension and appreciation (London, 2019). While memes may appear frivolous at face value, their significance in shaping popular culture goes deeper, allowing shared social imagination and community-building. As older adults increasingly adopt and respond to meme culture on platforms like Facebook, they often encounter memes that challenge longstanding cultural norms and values, leading to discourse across generational lines.

Public Sentiment on Memes

Public opinion regarding memes is polarized, and attitudes depend mostly on sociocultural, age, and contextual factors. On one hand, many perceive memes as a delightful means of communication and an innovative, creative outlet that leads to the sharing of humor and ideas (London, 2019). The emergence of dedicated meme-sharing apps like 9GAG further validates their prevalent appeal, catering to individuals across different demographics and providing substantial income sources for meme creators.
On the flip side, memes have faced critique due to their propensity to adopt dark humor, sometimes veering into offensive territory. Such memes can potentially contribute to desensitization regarding serious issues or trivialize certain life experiences (Hurren, 2019). This contention indicates that while meme culture has undergone an expansive transformation, it demands responsibility and critical engagement.

Cultural Transformation through Memes

Meme culture's influence on popular culture extends to areas such as marketing, pop culture references, and the construction of online identities. Marketers have recognized memes as a valid avenue for brand engagement, increasingly employing them to resonate with younger audiences. A prime example includes Wendy's utilization of witty and irreverent memes that fostered a connection with its consumer base, thus altering traditional marketing approaches (Hurren, 2019).
Moreover, memes have also intricately woven themselves into the fabric of daily communication—most notably sparking the proliferation of memes representing memes themselves, solidifying a metacultural phenomenon. This phenomenon further signifies the evolution from mere digital communication to a self-referential space that blurs the lines between content creation and consumption.

Conclusion

In summary, meme culture has emerged as a multifaceted phenomenon reshaping popular culture through its expansive reach and inventive usage. By acting as instruments for social commentary, community identity formation, and creative expression, memes wield significant influence over contemporary cultural conversations. Yet, the oscillating public sentiment surrounding meme culture also highlights the need for nuanced discussions regarding authenticity, responsibility, and the potential consequences of dark humor.
As this research proposal unfolds, it bears significance to not only analyze memes within the purview of humor but also to recognize their broader socio-political impacts. Collaboration must drive further exploration, considering how memes, when rooted in cultural contexts, can influence societal structures and relationships across generations.

References

1. Dawkins, R. (1976). The Selfish Gene. Oxford University Press.
2. Habib, A. (2020, Mar 20). The Philosophy of Meme Culture. Retrieved February 16, 2021, from NUVO.
3. Hurren, M. (2019, Mar 31). The Meme Theory. The Public Ear. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
4. London, M. (2019, Mar 20). Meme Culture: What Is It? Retrieved February 16, 2021.
5. Truszkowski, W., Rouff, C., Akhavannik, M., & Tunstel, E. (2020). Memes, culture, the Internet, and intelligence. In Robot Memetics (pp. 15-29). Springer, Cham.
6. Berger, J. (2016). Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age. Simon and Schuster.
7. Shifman, L. (2014). Memes in Digital Culture. MIT Press.
8. Nissenbaum, P. (2018). The Evolution of Internet Memes: A Historical Perspective. Social Media + Society.
9. Milner, R. M. (2016). Memes and the Future of Communication. The Yale Review of Books.
10. Hu, C. (2021). The Meme as Cultural Vehicle. Journal of Cultural Studies.