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Image-based Memes as a New Simulacra: The Displacement of Meaning in Images Reproduced on Social Media

White, Julia C.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6197-2423
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1660046821789546

Abstract Details

2022, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Art History (Fine Arts).
This research follows the development of two image-based internet memes, the Spider-Man Pointing at Spider-Man meme and the Tradwife meme, to interrogate how the spread and reproduction of image-based internet memes on social media platforms affects the images’ retention of meaning. In order to apply a combined historical, semiological, and media-centric approach, this thesis follows the historical evolution of each meme alongside two theories: Bradley Wiggins’ genre development of memes and Jean Baudrillard’s simulacra. The historical account for each meme begins with the primary image and follows its transformation into an image-based internet meme according to the genre development of memes, demonstrating its initial role as spreadable media, to emergent meme, and finally, to full-fledged internet meme. Alongside that development, the process is compared to the developmental steps of Baudrillard’s simulacra to utilize Baudrillard’s theory to understand how images separate from their original meanings in mass reproduction. Image-based internet memes are connected to Baudrillard’s simulacra because they both feature a dissociation of meanings and mass reproduction on media platforms. However, there is a distinction between the kind of media which Baudrillard references in his theory of simulacra and the kind of media internet memes developed on. Due to the mirrored processes of internet meme development and simulacra development, but the distinction between the type of medias, I argue that image-based internet memes form a new kind of simulacra.
Jennie Klein (Advisor)
Karen Riggs (Committee Member)
Samuel Dodd (Committee Member)
100 p.
Art History; Communication; Mass Communications; Mass Media
internet studies; memes; internet memes; digital media history; Baudrillard; simulacra; media; 4chan; Reddit; social media; communication; spreadable media

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • White, J. C. (2022). Image-based Memes as a New Simulacra: The Displacement of Meaning in Images Reproduced on Social Media [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1660046821789546

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • White, Julia. Image-based Memes as a New Simulacra: The Displacement of Meaning in Images Reproduced on Social Media. 2022. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1660046821789546.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • White, Julia. "Image-based Memes as a New Simulacra: The Displacement of Meaning in Images Reproduced on Social Media." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1660046821789546

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1660046821789546
303
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.