Someone Else's EOTO - Political Memes

Someone else’s EOTO that I found very interesting was Kierce Tarmy’s presentation on political memes. I love memes and often spend most of my time on Instagram interacting with memes and sending them around to my friends. I was never as interested in political memes but around the time of the election they became more funny. One thing that is important with political memes is that you have to keep up with politics or else the joke will go over your head. 

What is a meme? A meme is an idea, behavior, style or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture. Memes often use humor as a form of light or entertainment while carrying a symbolic meaning representing a particular phenomenon or theme. Political memes often grab the attention of younger audiences on social media and get across the joke fairly quickly. Memes can even be used as a campaigning tool which can drive mainstream media. A lot of the political memes are made to create a sense of attachment, care, or commitment to a certain party or leader, which can be a way in finding one’s identity or belonging. 

Political memes definitely have an impact on society and can influence audiences in various ways. If the memes are successful they can package information in a lighthearted and shareable way. They can also provide an intersection between politics and fandom. Memes appeal to emotion in stating a position on a specific issue and create a sense of attachment to a certain party. However there are some negative side effects to political memes as they can lead to backlash, pose as a threat to democracy, and be relied on in helping someone form a political opinion. Below is an example of a political meme that may be shared.

Sources:

Kierce's Presentation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme