Ilona Kovacs
Professor Noah Travis Phillips
EDPX3700 Internet Art Cultures
April 20th, 2021
The meme I have decided to remix is actually an expansion on the originally introduced evolutionary Bernie memes, as a more recent photo has gone viral of the man. This meme has traditionally been relevant due to its context to the election, and the excitement around Bernie Sanders running for President of the United States in 2020. In my refresh of it, the meme can become relevant again as Bernie in his mittens is already a viral sensation and adding an old meme on top of it can provide a new relatable layer in the same circle of interested parties. You can tell Bernie was at the end of his wits (we all really were after 2020) and the rumor of his body language was that he couldn't care less about the inauguration in January after his personal experiences throughout the election. The new feeling behind the meme is basically defeat.
| Dimension | Definition | Demonstration |
|---|---|---|
| Content | The idea/s and the ideology/ies conveyed by a specific text. | Bernie’s video: pro political campaigning and publicly requesting financial support My Remix: negative attitude toward political campaigning and pro refreshing memes |
| Form | The physical formulation of the message, perceived through our senses | Bernie’s video & my remix: Bernie Sanders, medium close-up, outside, innocence, viral photos of Bernie Sanders in his winter jacket with words loosely 'I am once again asking...' at bottom in white font |
| Stance | Information about the communicative positioning of the addresser in relation to the text/message, the context, and other potential speakers. Sub-dimensions: participation structures, keying, communication functions. |
Bernie’s video: professional keying, campaign advertisement. My Remix: ironic keying, casual relatability. |
The meme I have decided to remix is a kind of homage to the rows of (eleven) rocking chairs lining Nanette's walk into work every day at Cracker Barrel during her eleven yearlong employment. The eleven rocking chairs in the photo was inspired by the Instagram comment in my original exploration which calls attention to the eleven pieces of fried chicken pictured in the Cracker Barrel ad. You know who would have loved that fried chicken... Anyways, the meme brings in a Brad's Wife parody of the Cracker Barrel logo as well as a haunting font displaying 'e l e v e n y e a r s' at the bottom of the photo. Bottom text is a common incorporation for many internet memes, so it felt right in this situation as well. I especially liked that this photo from The Barrel (as it is commonly referred to as by employees) is in Kentucky, per the UK rockers on the right, which is where I'm from!
| Dimension | Definition | Demonstration |
|---|---|---|
| Content | The idea/s and the ideology/ies conveyed by a specific text. | Brad’s post: against normal working-class policies, pro loyalty and justice My Remix: against Cracker Barrel, pro 'Brad's Wife' and justice |
| Form | The physical formulation of the message, perceived through our senses | Brad's post & my remix: Brad's Wife, #JusticeForBradsWife, 'eleven years', Anti-Cracker Barrel |
| Stance | Information about the communicative positioning of the addresser in relation to the text/message, the context, and other potential speakers. Sub-dimensions: participation structures, keying, communication functions. |
Brad's post: serious keying, emotive, personal story. My Remix: cynical/ironic and passionate keying, community resistance in support. |