the lols of nations: understanding global memes

wow

so panel

amazevery memes

so meme

such lols

wow

very globals

very politics

much nation#lolnations

#LOLNATIONS

Andrés Monroy-HernándezBen ValentineElena Agapie

Katy Pearce

ofV

@andresmh@bennyv@elenaagp@katypearce

UNDERSTANDING GLOBAL MEMES

News media

Political cartoons

Prompt for collective action

Understanding geopolitical perceptions

Reveal societal biases

6 REASONS WHY MEMES ARE MEANINFGUL

they send him a message to tell him to run away…

the message is sent via WhatsApp

1. News media

I SUPPORTED PEÑA’S ELECTORAL FRAUD SO MEXICO GOES ROCK

BOTTOM

AND IT GETS READY TO IMPROVE

MEXICO DOESN’T LIKE ME

I DON’T GIVE A SH*T

3. Political cartoons

MORRIS THE CAT

4. Prompt for collective action

Let me see if I understood…

You’re saying you cannot find the body of “El Lazca”?...hahaha

Maybe they put it next to Bin Laden’s…

5. Understanding geopolitical perceptions

6. Reveal societal biases

SO YOU’RE TELLING ME THAT IN MEXICO

A COMPANY NAMED “BIMBO” SELLS “NEGRITOS”??

EAST AFRICAN MEMES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

BEN VALENTINE, @BENNNYVTHE CIVIC BEAT

THANK YOU:

-DANIEL MWESIGWA @VALANCHEE-SAMUEL KAMUGISHA @SKAMZAC-AN XIAO MINA @ANXIAOSTUDIO

#LOLnationsVia: Urban Legend Kampala

Via: @DCKehranVia: @Siteiya#LOLnations

Via: Tanzanian Meme Facebook group. #LOLnations

Via: Urban Legend Kampala #LOLnations

"THE GOAL IS NOT TO COMMUNICATE,

EXPRESS, OR INFORM, BUT INSTEAD TO

PERFORM ALL THOSE LOCAL IDENTITIES, VALUES, WAYS OF LIFE, CULTURAL PRACTICES, AND

FORMS OF INTERACTION.”

-CLEMENCIA RODRIGUEZ

#LOLnations

#LOLnations

Via: Tanzanian Meme Facebook group. #LOLnations

“SIGNALING OUR

PREFERENCES – TO OTHERS –

IS A KEY DIMENSION OF HUMAN ACTION.”

- ZEYNEP TUFEKCI

#LOLnations

“POWER IS THE ABILITY NOT JUST TO TELL THE STORY OF ANOTHER PERSON,

BUT TO MAKE IT THE DEFINITIVE STORY OF

THAT PERSON.”

- CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE

#LOLnations

Via Facebook users from Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

#LOLnations

(Kati Kati = Now) Via: @Wabwire

Via: @jssozi

#LOLnations

ELENA AGAPIE, @ELENAAGPVISITING FELLOW, MICROSOFT RESEARCH

PHD STUDENT, HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN AND ENGINEERINGUNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

MEMES FOR POLITICAL DISCOURSE

ROMANIAN MEMES

Memes, cultural features and diffusion channels during political crisis

#LOLnations

MEMES USED TO HUMORIZE POLITICAL DISTRESS

Critiquing political characters

Making fun of situation with no solution

#LOLnations

MEMES USED TO EXPRESS POLITICAL DIFFERENCES

Memes show pluralism of perspectives

Entertainment used to depict serious issues #LOLnations

PRIME MINISTER PONTA as JAMES BOND

PRESIDENT BASESCUas DIE HARD

MY NAME IS PASTE, COPY-PASTE…

MEMES EXPRESS CULTURAL VALUES AND STEREOTYPES

East vs West support

#LOLnations

COPY FROM RUSSIA PASTE TO

ROMANIA

− DO YOU KNOW WHY PONTA WANTS TO BECOME PRESIDENT?

− NO!− HE DOESN’T

EITHER

MEMES EXPRESS CULTURAL VALUES AND STEREOTYPES

Mixing political symbols with entertainment:Hammer and sicklevsVampires and cemeteries #LOLnations

HANGING THE OMBUDSMANBURRYING THE CONSTITUTIONYOU ARE NEXT!

DISREGARD PRIME MINISTER PONTA

Cultural preferences for books & politician stereotypes

#LOLnations

THIEF FOR ONE AND ONE FOR THIEFS

THE 3 BOSCHETEERS

IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT BASESCU

-

#LOLnations

I JUST GOT A MISSION BASESCU IMPEACHED

CHANNEL DIFFERENCES

#LOLnations

CHANNEL DIFFERENCES

#LOLnations

VS.

CHANNEL DIFFERENCES

#LOLnations

VS.

POLITICAL SUPPORT IN THE FILTER BUBBLE

IMPACT OF MEMES

Social media supported offline protestCitizens did not vote

SUSPENDED CITIZEN #LOLnations

MEMES & HUMOR AS A LAST RESORT DURING CRISIS

#LOLnationsA ROMANIA TO LAUGH AT

PONTA and

COLLABORATOR

Humor to vocalize opinionsChannel to vocalize social issues

MEMES FOR POLITICAL DISSENT AND SUPRESSION

KATY PEARCE, @KATYPEARCEUNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

• CHEAP TO PRODUCE• FUNNY• SHAREABLE• ANONYMOUS• TRACKABLE• CAN BE USED FOR POLITICAL

PURPOSES, INCLUDING DISSENT

• BUT ALSO CAN BE USED TO SUPRESS

MEMES

#LOLnations

THIS AIN’T YOUR DADDY’S AUTHORITARIANISM

Being a dictator is tough today!

- No more Soviet sponsorship- The democracy promotion industry- Internet and technologies

Today’s dictators are savvier and more nimble than before and they need legitimacy that only the law can provide

- Reference democratic concepts- Don’t steal elections so obviously- Don’t arrest NGO members, send health inspectors

to the office- Audit an opposition radio station rather than stop

its broadcasting #LOLnations

But opposing or dissenting against the regime is just as risky

as it was in the past

DICTATOR TOOLS OF CONTROL

BOASTING SUPPORT

CONTROL NON-SUPPORTERS THROUGH BLACKMAIL,

HARASSMENT, COERCION

CONTROL NON-SUPPORTERS THROUGH MATERIAL

ENTICEMENT

CONTROL INFORMATION FLOW

STAGE POLITICAL DRAMA TO UNDERMINE OPPONENTS

#LOLnations Schatz (2009)

• 9 million people

• Majority Shia Muslim

• 99% literacy

• Per capita GDP USD 10,000

• Oil wealth

AZERBAIJAN

STAGE POLITICAL DRAMA TO

UNDERMINE OPPONENTS

#LOLnations

STAGE POLITICAL DRAMA TO

UNDERMINE OPPONENTS

#LOLnations

CONTROL INFORMATION

FLOW

#LOLnations

CONTROL NON-SUPPORTERS

THROUGH BLACKMAIL, HARASSMENT,

COERCION

#LOLnations

CONTROL NON-SUPPORTERS

THROUGH BLACKMAIL, HARASSMENT,

COERCION

#LOLnations

COMPETITIVE & SELECTIVE BOASTING SUPPORT

#LOLnations

OPPOSITION MEMES EXIST

Donkey Bloggers

BulistanHeydar Aliyev

Facebook Page

Harlem Shake

• Anti-government video

• 24 & 30 months in jail, 17 months served

• Satirical YouTube channel

• Conscription, harassment, beatings, family losing jobs, asylum

• Parody & meme Facebook page

• Administrators arrested a year ago today, trial still not over

• Harlem Shake video

• Identifiable participant arrested for hooliganism

#LOLnations

TAKEAWAY

#LOLnations

THANK YOUFOR YOURTIME