Memes serve essential functions of communication, political participation, laughter, and community, which are even more important during a global crisis of this scale.
I have a post published today on the blog of the PanMeMic Collective, a group of researchers interested in how Covid-19 is changing interaction and communication. It’s a bit of an introduction to my aims and theoretical lens of my dissertation, though I am focusing specifically on memes about the UK government’s “Stay Alert” guidance.
The main takeaway: Memes are perfect tools for communicating about Covid-19, because they fill three social functions that are particularly relevant now:
Memes are expressions of intersubjectivity, and help answer questions about how we as individuals are experiencing a collective shift in lifestyle.
Memes make us laugh - a coping mechanism that is normal and important during times of crisis.
The pandemic is as political as it is medical - memes are an accessible entry point into political participation, and allow millions of different voices to be heard.