The evolution of memes from cute kittens and cuddly puppies to images of political figures and those in the public eye unlucky enough to be caught by a camera in an awkward moment, is the newest, deceptively entertaining “text” worthy of a closer look. My presentation will reference the ideas of Limor Shifman in his book, Memes in Digital Culture. Shifman argues that there is a real danger to, specifically political, memes because they are often fraught with inaccuracies and aim to be humorous; therefore, they are capable of spreading inaccuracies at a viral rate to those who believe these silly images with clever slogans are simply entertaining ways to present facts. Describing it as the new bare minimum of “political participation,” Shifman explains that sharing political memes, as long as people are engaged, counts as being even the least bit politically aware. To a generation of first-time voters and long-time users of the internet, failing to critically evaluate memes could mean casting a woefully undereducated vote.
My presentation will provide examples of the deceptive memes mentioned above along with a more in depth look at the possible dangers of such memes. Finally, I will offer some pedagogical activities that promote critical thinking to a generation of students about to vote for the first time in a very important election year.
About the presenterJamie Woodlief
I have taught Composition for West Chester University at the instructor level for the past eight years. The most popular course I teach is Writing about Pop Culture. I employ music, film, television and technology in this course. The course changes with the trends, so it is always a new experience. My research also focuses on first year writing and academic development programs.