Immediately after any given event of consequence, a sprout of “memes” appears on every social media platform intended to provide a conclusion, a statement of truth, often accompanied by a photograph aimed at illustrating the text that comes with it — to “express the truth in its simplest form”. I apologize — we all know what a “meme” is — but do we know what a meme does?
Great piece Judson. Yeah, there is something definitely wrong when memes are able to be spliced and contorted selectively. I hope this isn't a stretch to say but the format of it actually reminds me of what is happening with the rapid culture shift for people to take in shorter and shorter form of content like tik tok. It's like the short form of a critisim or "review".
It also doesn't help that a large portion memes guise themselves under the cloak of comedy. What this then does is have the onlooker akin those "good" feelings of laughter to truth.
And finally, memeing is probably not the best way come away from something. But long gone are the days of calcualted reflection perhaps.
Such a good point about the feel-good factor, reinforcing a "truth" with all the charm of a digital cocktail.
I also believe in that it is a "scrollable politic" designed for fly-like attention spans. Also, Part 2 of this article will be published sometime very soon!
Thanks for reading and I grateful for your response.
And if we don't stand up for what's right in America, and actually expose stolen elections, fraud, anti-Christian heresy, and selfish lazy attitudes, then we are saying we only care about our own life, that is also being affected by all that I just described. Those who are doing this want people to not care, and do nothing. Often memes are more accurate than not also.
Memes seem to be aimed at the lowest common denominator.
I had a child who was getting nothing out of public school in the 3rd grade. I was teaching everything at home each evening and didn't understand why age-appropriate subjects weren't being taught in school. I ran into his teacher outside the classroom, in a store. She apologized, saying she was instructed to teach to the slowest student, and to teach no faster than that student could learn.
Meme's seem designed to speak to those who can't think for themselves or are just plain too lazy to do so - to dig deeper. Meme's dumb down complex ideas.
Some of them are funny, so it's tempting to re-post, but you have to consider your audience and the likelihood that they'll take those oversimplified ideas at face value.
I've looked at memes from both sides of the political spectrum, as have you, and have come to the conclusion that they are designed to manipulate. Some people are too lazy to dig deeper and investigate, while others just want to be 'friends' with the person who posted the meme, to be included in their group. So, they 'like' the meme and move on, while its message seeps into their subconscious.
I've very glad you wrote this piece, and you wrote it so well. I will be sharing it - with the hope that the spreaders of oversimplified memes designed to villainize a particular group might just grow a conscience. One can always hope...
Wonderful to have found this response. I agree with what you mean, the lowest common denominator. People can be shown these points you make- and learn where the logic fails...
I thought this piece was almost too obvious for some reason. Glad I decided to publish it, though.
Thanks for the thoughtful response, Eva. I have Part 2 coming out very soon, would love to have your readership for the last segment.
Someone had a t-shirt with the slogan "Make Racism Wrong Again." The implicit message is that liking "Make America Great Again" meant you were racist. It is in essence a meme. I was going to explain this to the person who pretended to be befuddled that someone at an event was offended, but what would be the point? We have been pushed to reduce each other to memes.
Great piece Judson. Yeah, there is something definitely wrong when memes are able to be spliced and contorted selectively. I hope this isn't a stretch to say but the format of it actually reminds me of what is happening with the rapid culture shift for people to take in shorter and shorter form of content like tik tok. It's like the short form of a critisim or "review".
It also doesn't help that a large portion memes guise themselves under the cloak of comedy. What this then does is have the onlooker akin those "good" feelings of laughter to truth.
And finally, memeing is probably not the best way come away from something. But long gone are the days of calcualted reflection perhaps.
Such a good point about the feel-good factor, reinforcing a "truth" with all the charm of a digital cocktail.
I also believe in that it is a "scrollable politic" designed for fly-like attention spans. Also, Part 2 of this article will be published sometime very soon!
Thanks for reading and I grateful for your response.
Looking forward to reading pieces of yours.
JSV
And if we don't stand up for what's right in America, and actually expose stolen elections, fraud, anti-Christian heresy, and selfish lazy attitudes, then we are saying we only care about our own life, that is also being affected by all that I just described. Those who are doing this want people to not care, and do nothing. Often memes are more accurate than not also.
Memes seem to be aimed at the lowest common denominator.
I had a child who was getting nothing out of public school in the 3rd grade. I was teaching everything at home each evening and didn't understand why age-appropriate subjects weren't being taught in school. I ran into his teacher outside the classroom, in a store. She apologized, saying she was instructed to teach to the slowest student, and to teach no faster than that student could learn.
Meme's seem designed to speak to those who can't think for themselves or are just plain too lazy to do so - to dig deeper. Meme's dumb down complex ideas.
Some of them are funny, so it's tempting to re-post, but you have to consider your audience and the likelihood that they'll take those oversimplified ideas at face value.
I've looked at memes from both sides of the political spectrum, as have you, and have come to the conclusion that they are designed to manipulate. Some people are too lazy to dig deeper and investigate, while others just want to be 'friends' with the person who posted the meme, to be included in their group. So, they 'like' the meme and move on, while its message seeps into their subconscious.
I've very glad you wrote this piece, and you wrote it so well. I will be sharing it - with the hope that the spreaders of oversimplified memes designed to villainize a particular group might just grow a conscience. One can always hope...
Wonderful to have found this response. I agree with what you mean, the lowest common denominator. People can be shown these points you make- and learn where the logic fails...
I thought this piece was almost too obvious for some reason. Glad I decided to publish it, though.
Thanks for the thoughtful response, Eva. I have Part 2 coming out very soon, would love to have your readership for the last segment.
Best,
JSV
I'll be on the look-out for Part 2.
Someone had a t-shirt with the slogan "Make Racism Wrong Again." The implicit message is that liking "Make America Great Again" meant you were racist. It is in essence a meme. I was going to explain this to the person who pretended to be befuddled that someone at an event was offended, but what would be the point? We have been pushed to reduce each other to memes.
Absolutely. Memes are kinda everywhere. There are, I am sure, more people that see through them than we think, one could hope.
Thanks for reading Cronin, truly. Part 2 of this article will be out on Wrong Speak soon. Hope you can catch it, too.
Be well K.E. ,
JSV