Name Rachel Becker
CMM 240 A – Spring ‘22
Date Due: March 8th, 2022
QCQ is short for “Quotation-Comment-Question.” It begins with a Quotation of 1-3 sentences. It then has a Comment. And it then asks a Question that encourages engagement from others. A good QCQ gives you something to bring to the table and offers something worth discussing in class. Earn full credit (1000 points) for a QCQ that touches all 3 bases – and is in on time.
QCQ for _(name the article) – Internet Memes
Quotation (with page number or paragraph number or time-stamp if video/audio)
“… internet memes have gone from quirky, subcultural oddities to a ubiquitous, arguably foundational, digital media practice.”
Comment (250-500 words)
When I saw what this article was about, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. 18 whole pages about internet memes? I truly did not expect someone to be able to fill 18 pages with meaningful or notable words about memes. However, despite my doubts, I was pleasantly surprised by the intrigue this article provided on the topic.
I chose this specific quote because I thought it was a very interesting way to describe internet memes. To describe what many see as a goofy thing that most kids do as “foundational” is not an expected interpretation. As I continued to read, I learned multiple reasons as to why memes can be considered to be “foundational”. I forgot to take political memes into context when thinking about their importance. I have seen many political memes, especially in my AP Comparative Politics class my senior year of high school.
Political illustrations are, in my opinion, a form of a meme as they are shared and some are changed and spread throughout the internet to send a message about a specific political topic. I’ve seen political illustrations on a wide array of topics including Trump’s presidency, WWI, WWII, Pearl Harbor, political protests, and much much more. These make an impact deep enough for me to be able to remember them, and that is saying a lot. Other memes do this as well with just the simple purpose of entertainment and humor. Things don’t always have to have a purpose greater than bringing a laugh or a smile to a person’s face. So, I believe it is safe to say that these “quirky oddities” leave a “ubiquitous” impression on people, regardless of the reason they were made and shared.
Question
What quantifies a meme? How much do you need to change or add to something when you share it for it to be considered a meme?
