Proposal: Ironic Memes For Rhetorical Means
Research Question
I am interested in rhetorically analyzing the process of creating and sharing memes that center around themes of depression, anxiety, or general mental illness. There has been an increase in “depression memes” or “ironic humor” since 2016, a phenomenon that is driven largely by young people on social media platforms. By looking at specific pages or groups that share these memes and the types of conversations that occur I hope to come to some conclusions as to why these memes are so popular to this particular audience and what rhetorical purposes they may serve.
Concepts and Framework
Interpellation, rhetorical ecology, exigence, audience/subject
Quotations
“The writer exists within a larger world of dynamic, interrelated, socially constituted systems that are constantly in flux.” (Rivers and Weber 192)
“Interpellation occurs at the very moment one enters into a rhetorical situation, that is, as soon as an individual recognizes and acknowledges being addressed. An interpellated subject participates in the discourse that addresses him.” (Charland 138)
“…the social does not reside in fixed sites, but rather in a networked space of flows and connections.” (Edbauer 9)
Commentary
While conducting some preliminary searches about my topic I ran into several iterations of the same idea, namely that ironic memes serve the purpose of creating community through relational humor and they make light of heavy topic through absurdity. Feelings of depression and anxiety, some claim, are less scary and more manageable if they can be laughed at and shared with thousands of others. Yet these memes seem to have a clear audience that is defined by age, a lot of meme pages follow the title format of “(blank) memes for (blank) teens” or they share mundane occurrences relevant to “twenty somethings” or “adulting.”
It is apparent these memes are meant for and enjoyed by younger people, often to the confusion of older generations, so what makes them appealing? Are they impacting the way people interact with one another or how we view mental illness? What purpose is being served by the creation and circulation of these memes, and where do they even come from?
In class we have discussed the nature of identity, audience, and rhetorical ecology; I wish to examine what audience these memes address, what possible identities are constructed, and how the circulation of these texts and ideas is networked and interconnected through a multitude of texts and platforms. At the end of Edbauer’s piece on rhetorical ecology she discusses how rhetoric matters because it “demands engagement with the living,” through rhetoric texts are “not only produced but also understood to matter.” (Edbauer 23) Since memes are not only jokes but a product of the internet they are not typically since as important cultural objects, but due to their significant presence I feel analyzing the rhetoric of ironic memes can offer useful insight into the millennial generations’ thoughts and anxieties.
Question
How much of an impact do you believe the internet has on public thought and action? Do we influence online discourse as much as we are influenced by it?
