This week we're going to think about how to create an effective internet meme, and incorporate this into our artworks.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"A meme (/ˈmiːm/; meem)[1] is "an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture."[2] A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.[3]
The word meme is a shortening (modeled on gene) of mimeme (from Ancient Greek μίμημα Greek pronunciation: [míːmɛːma] mīmēma, "imitated thing", from μιμεῖσθαι mimeisthai, "to imitate", from μῖμος mimos "mime")[4] and it was coined by the British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in The Selfish Gene (1976)[1][5] as a concept for discussion of evolutionary principles in explaining the spread of ideas and cultural phenomena. Examples of memes given in the book included melodies, catch-phrases, fashion, and the technology of building arches.[6]
Proponents theorize that memes may evolve by natural selection in a manner analogous to that of biological evolution. Memes do this through the processes of variation, mutation, competition, and inheritance, each of which influence a meme's reproductive success. Memes spread through the behavior that they generate in their hosts. Memes that propagate less prolifically may become extinct, while others may survive, spread, and (for better or for worse) mutate. Memes that replicate most effectively enjoy more success, and some may replicate effectively even when they prove to be detrimental to the welfare of their hosts.[7]"
What memes can we think of off-hand that have proliferated because of the connective nature of the internet? What makes a meme good? How can we use memes?
Some big internet memes include LOL cats, Kim Jong Il pointing at things, Dodge, Philosopher Raptor, and more.
Internet memes spread rapidly and are often comprised of simple witty statements, paired with simple images.
In order for something to become a meme other people must copy it, and in many cases modify it. Memes can be political and serve as a subversive means for social change, or they can be neutral. They must be relatable, or culturally relevant.
This is an example of one artist's take on "Grumpy Cat." It is by Inti Orozco.
The original "Grumpy Cat" looks something like this:
You can learn more about grumpy cat here: http://www.grumpycats.com/about-grumpy-cat/#.Ux-XtfSwJbx
We will be learning about memes in Paia, Kihei, and Wailuku. Students can choose to either make their own meme, or continue to expand an existing meme.
We will use paper, markers, pencils and various 2D media for this project.
For more about the people I work for, and the other art classes, events, and scholarships they sponsor, please go to www.Lahaina-arts.org.
