PracticalUTC

Unravel the Meme – the undervalued power of internet farts

keywords: imitation, transformation, replication, participation, sharing, user-generated, dissemination, appropriation, remix, pop culture, subculture ...

Context

A meme is "an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture”. The term was introduced by Richard Dawkins in his book The Selfish Gene. He defined memes as small cultural units of transmission (similar to genes), which are spread from person to person by copying or imitation. His examples include melodies, catchphrases, fashion, but also abstract beliefs. Many memes are competing for attention, however only some spread succesfully while others die out. Online the internet meme has become a widespread phenomenon. It can take the form of an image, video, picture, website or hashtag. It may be just a word or phrase, including intentional misspelling. These spread from person to person via social networks, blogs, email, or news sources. They can evolve and spread extremely rapidly, sometimes reaching world-wide popularity within a few days. More often than not, we associate memes with mindless fun and entertainment. However they can also potentially be a powerful digital artefact influencing public opinion or consumer behaviour world-wide.

For this first project you will take look at particular given memes and analyse them. Formulate many questions in order to dissect, interpret, assess, the meme. For instance: What characterizes your meme? How is it used? How widespread is it? Where did it originate from? What are keywords that you would attach to it? What is it’s effect? What are it’s components? What does it link to? What do you think of this meme? What story might you want to tell about this meme? And how would you visualize this story? Ultimately your findings will be displayed as a mini-exhibition during the Wereld van Witte de With.

Planning

Date	Time & Location	Content
Sept 1st	13-16h @ Interaction Station	intro - meme research
Sept 3rd	-	group brainstorm / mini-exhibition proposal
Sept 8th	13-16h "on location"	discussion, mentoring, exhibition planning
Sept 10th	10-17h "on location"	exhibition set-up
Sept 10th	18:00-21:00 "on location"	lecture by Roel Abbing - presentations - BYO BORRRRRRRRREL
Sept 11-13	Wereld van Witte de Width Festival	-

- | week 6 | Oct 6 | Research + Concept development |- | week 7 | Oct 13 | MICA @ WDKA – Project Week – Digital Craft Debate |- | | oct 20 | ☺ Fall Vacation |- | week 8 | Oct 27 | Research + Concept development |- | week 9 | Nov 3 | Research + Concept development |- | week 10 | Nov 10 | Q9 Evaluation - Research Document First Draft |}

1st Quarter Deliverables

Table Presentation

1. Four 'Tools & Tech' workshop assignments;
   
2. Crafting data storage workshop assignment;
   

Wiki Deliverables

1. A weekly updated wiki-log comprising of all your activities throughout the semester;
   
2. Assigned documentation of event/happening or T&T workshop;
   
3. Draft research document including research plan, abstract, research question, initial findings and initial experiments;
   

Digital Pitch (Powerpoint Presentation)

1. What is the theme I am investigating? Why is this relevant?
2. How does this relate to the body, identity, and technology? Defend the relevancy. 3. What is my research question? Why is this relevant?
4. How am I structuring my research? Why is this relevant?
5. What tools or methods could I/will I use to conduct my research? How are these relevant?
6. What is the foreseen result? Why would this be this relevant?
7. What is the difference between my foreseen result and my initial experiments? Relevance?

2nd Quarter

week	date
week 1	Nov 17	Design, Production & Realisation
week 2	Nov 24	Design, Production & Realisation
week 3	Dec 3	Design, Production & Realisation + Student Run Tools & Tech
week 4	Dec 8	Design, Production & Realisation + Student Run Tools & Tech
week 5	Dec 15	Research & Reflection Document Final Draft + Student Run Tools & Tech
	Dec 22	Christmas Vacation
	Dec 29	Christmas Vacation
week 6	Jan 5	Finishing Touches – Publishing Research Document – Exhibition Planning
week 7	Jan 12	Final Assessment – Exhibition Planning
week 8	Jan 19	Digital Craft Exhibition @ V2_Institute for Unstable Media – Digital Craft Debate
week 9	Jan 26	UTC Publication
week 10	Feb 2	UTC Publication

2nd Evaluation

13 January - 13:00 Reserve your timeslot!

2nd Quarter Deliverables

1. a prototype or design object
2. a complete published design & research document including research, process, sketches, outlines and final results
3. a complete published wiki project page which shares your insights and discoveries (updated during the semester)
4. Public presentation of project consisting of:
5. Prototype/design object /artwork- presented within a museum context
6. Digital presentation, which explains the process and end result

Research Document Criteria

PDF format uploaded to the wiki (no later then 06/01) Printed physical copy on presentation day.

1. Cover Image
2. Introduction / Abstract
3. Table of Contents
4. Research Question
5. Research Design
6. Research Themes/Topic
7. Experiments / Case Studies
8. Conclusions
9. Design Prototype/Proposals
10. Final Design
11. Reflection