Art is what you make it. The question has often been raised on whether or not memes are art.
Memes have become a integral part of everyday life. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t share memes with family & friends or vice-versa.
With just a quick scroll through the internet, you’ll instantly find a meme that resonates with you. Memes, with or without context, bring people together through shared comedy. In some cases they’re also informational. It wouldn’t shock me if they start popping up in future textbooks.
Cassandra Luca of The Harvard Crimson states “Which is why, I would postulate, they’re art. It’s still difficult for many to think of such Internet-based phenomena as “art,” but, I ask — why not? They require quick thinking, wit, and creativity. They capture our anxieties, desires, sense of humor, and cultural moment.”
While memes do not measure up towards other art forms, at the end of the day, they still require thinking and creativity.
Furthermore, Vittorio Compagno of the Carl Kruse Arts Blog mentions “Memes have become so important to our common culture that an online “library” archives thousands of them, avoiding the inevitable loss that the speed at which they are made causes. When a form of communication becomes popular, you suddenly start seeing ads popping in using that same medium. That is the case with popular art in recent decades.”
The bottom line is— Art is constantly evolving & memes are here to stay!
Here are 2 memes I created that are related to CT101:
GIFs have become a part of my daily life. When I first started using Twitter (still gonna call it that), I went crazy with using GIFs either when tweeting or replying to mutuals. The way I see it is: When words fail, GIFs speak!
I had my doubts while skimming through the syllabus for CT101 but that all went away on the first day. But I was kinda sad when I found out that the class meets only once a week.
Blogging (more so vlogging)is something I’ve always wanted to explore more, but I just never followed through with it. Hopefully blogging will serve me well and it’ll be a place where all of my interests can mix together. My life is like an onion- filled with many layers. Shrek said it best!
I feel that this class allows me to really be myself. It pushes me to think outside the box and inspires so much creativity. I never thought I’d be taking a class that centers around the use of GIFs, memes & hyperlinks— but here we are!
It’s fascinating to not only use these internet tools but to also learn about their history and how to create my own.
Are memes art? Memes can be used as a way to express any type of emotion or feeling just like art intends to do. Just like art, memes contain bright colors and images that catch the attention of the human eye. Individuals can tell their different experiences through the power of memes. According to SpokenVision.com “If you take a look at the past you can see that art has been used to do the same thing memes do now: bright colorful images that represent an idea.” Memes have become the most common form of self-expression on the World Wide Web. The Harvard Crimson says “Just as not all art speaks to everyone, memes are much the same.” Memes are so direct and straight-forward to the point of understanding how someone feels in that moment.
My access and discovery of memes allows me to express how I feel in the moment, I often use memes a lot through texting to convey my reaction to a text or to make someone laugh. Memes allow me to be an open book on the internet.
Since I am a fan of sports and a NY Yankees fan, these are my favorite memes below that express my feelings about the Yankees’2023 season:
“Which is why, I would postulate, they’re art. It’s still difficult for many to think of such Internet-based phenomena as “art,” but, I ask — why not? They require quick thinking, wit, and creativity. They capture our anxieties, desires, sense of humor, and cultural moment.”
“If you take the definition of art, you can see that memes do fall into its definition.”
Also the video, “Are LOLCats and Internet Memes Art?” Shows both sides of this argument.
I truly believe memes are a form of art based on their expression. People can use them to display their emotions and creativity. Also memes have a big impact and influence. They can be created from just so many factors, such as cringe memes, happy memes, political memes, tiktok memes, instagram reel memes, youtube shorts, and the list goes on and on.
I believe memes can definitely be used for story telling because of their ability to showcase different emotions. Also with cause and effect or prediction and outcome. Not gonna spoil anyone but if you know you know (meme below).
Memes are everywhere! If you’ve ever been on the internet, which all of us have, you’ve seen, shared, or liked a meme that resonated with you, and because of this memes are a seamlessly efficient way of connecting people. Memes, with or without context, can bring people together through shared comedy, or specifically expressed opinions others agree with. In some cases they can be used to share information.
But that bates the question, even though memes are a method of communication…can they be considered art? Short answer…
YES, memes are art! But how? They’re just goofy little posts that people post on the internet when their bored. Well according to the internet, specifically, Oxford Dictionary defines art as, “the use of the imagination to express ideas or feelings, particularly in painting, drawing or sculpture.”
Out of all the definitions I’ve read online, this one seems to be the most accurate one when pertaining to the topic at hand. I wholeheartedly agree with this definition because art is not defined by any one thing. Anyone can make art, whether it’s good or not is subjective and left to the opinion of the viewer, but anything created humans that effectively expresses the artist’s ideas or feelings is and will always be art.
So why would memes be left out if that’s the case???
Even The Harvard Crimson, a well known site from Harvard Law School, declares that meme are art. This article highlights the dissemination of memes across generational borders as some memes are catered expressly towards Millennials, while others are solely for Gen Z’s taste and understanding. Now if the nerds at Harvard say that memes are art, who are we to argue?
Piggybacking off of the article, they also mention how creating memes is a skill and in order to effectively create a meme people need to have idea of what they want to communicate. They then have either find or create a graphic that corresponds with the text that they plan on writing. In other words, you’re literally creating a body of work that you are in full control of, and based on what you’re referencing, your meme will reach your target audience almost immediately the moment you post it online.
Meme Makers be like….
So now that we’ve established that Memes ARE art, does that mean they are “good” art?
Hmm…subjectively I’ll say that some memes are top tier in their relatability and humor, however, the ones that I don’t understand or don’t resonate with are obviously not going to be high on my list, but that doesn’t mean that they’re bad…you know?
Same goes with “traditional” art though. Some pieces you might enjoy looking at a lot and others…not so much.
I will say though, that memes and traditional art are two categories under the umbrella of “ART.” I say this because traditional art, which includes drawing, painting, sketching, sculpting, graphic designing, music making, writing, and even cooking are all things that take time and effort to master. Whereas a meme maker can just decide one day that..”hey I wanna make a meme today” and chooses a random photo and quote and it becomes popular overnight.
As an artist myself I feel like I’m in limbo on the topic because, yes memes are a form of art, but do they carry a lot of weight, time, sacrifice and patience when compared to other art forms? No. However, at the end of the say it is still art.
Now with that being said, like all subjectively “good” art, can memes convey a story as well?
Of course!! Similar to other forms of art that are strung together to tell a coherent story, memes can tell a story through their alternative humor and whim.
^^See what I did there…I insert a meme that suggests a story time is about to happen😏.
But let’s get serious now… solely using gifs and memes let’s craft a narrative of how I, a 19 year old college student who has a horrible sleep schedule, feel about the semester as it goes on…
Let’s just say it’s definitely not syllabus week anymore…but see how I created that narrative using gifs and famous memes to convey my anxiety? Anyone can do it!
Speaking of memes and gifs let’s revisit some of my favorites that may be old but are still classic to me:
While on the subject here’s some strangely specific memes for our class that I made 😀:
P.S. I read some of the documents at the end of the assignment and even though I didn’t directly use them, they helped me find the other articles I used in this post.🫶🏼
“Are memes ART?”
I believe that memes are art because they are a way to communicate without words and they can express people’s emotions. On the other hand, other people think that memes are not art because you’re taking someone else’s work.
The following links are articles of both memes are art and memes are not art
I believe memes are a good form of art because u can say what you’re thinking without verbally saying it. This is good for communication because it’s another form of communication with others.Memes are more than self expected because they can get a reaction out of others.
yes, memes can be used for storytelling by experience how someone is feeling.
of course, in CT 101, there is no option. (not that i’m mad about it)
it is an interesting time to be alive, no longer are we writing sonnets to our beloved, those days are long gone. instead, we can send them a gif of a small animal to illustrate our unwavering love.
this is… in my opinion, a tragedy.
is our need for self-expression through moving media a technological advancement? perhaps it shows how afraid we are now to be vulnerable and express ourselves sincerely…
they say pictures are worth a thousand words but I would argue they are worth much less once they start moving and leave nothing left for interpretation.
although a member on gen z, the generation allegedly born with a wifi signal embedded in their foreheads, I am quite technologically un-advanced… so learning new ways to use the internet is exciting for me but also a little nerve wracking because I tend to be bad at computer related things.
but on the first day of CT101 I felt my anxieties about my computer illiteracy melt away as I realized this would be a fun, painless, creative class. I was excited to learn that we would be making our own blogs because I am constantly changing my creative outlets and perhaps blogging will serve me well and be a place where all of my interests can coincide.
it is cool to not just use these internet tools but to also learn about their history and how to create my own. although, upon reading the smithsonian article about gifs, I was pissed off the learn that the creator of gifs pronounced it with a soft g because that is just not right. but it was very interesting to read about “burn all gifs day.” I don’t believe the average gen z gif user is familiar with its controversial, protest inciting past.
upon playing around with giphy and imgur, I gravitated towards giphy and found it easier to use, perhaps because I was already familiar with it.
I was never familiar with, however, is a class that has a structure similar to CT101… I truly have never been in an academic setting that pushed me or inspired me to be creative and compared to my other classes, is a safe haven. This will probably be the third time in this post that I use this word, but, I am really excited to keep exploring what I can create using the tools of the internet although I personally resent that the digital age has meant the decline of face to face human connection.
Let me begin by saying I’m currently taking five courses this semester, which is helping me stay on top of my game. This is my third year, so since the beginning of college, the least number of courses I’ve covered is four, and since then, I look forward to having a packed semester every term. This class, CT101, is neither a required course nor an elective. I’m not sure how I ended up in this class, but I’m here, and so far, I’m loving it! On my first day, I thought nothing much of this class, which is why I took it in the first place. Professor Ryan says everything I expected. He even went above and beyond when he noted that assignments don’t have due dates. God bless his heart!
Of course, hearing about the CT101 course on the first day brought relief, knowing that not only would I have less work to worry about, but that I would also have fun creating and sharing my digital stories. I was confident in this class and pleased that I had picked it along with my other classes.
Comparing CT101 with Public Health, Clinical Microbiology, Research Writing 303, and the Health Profession is like comparing the strength of a raging bull to that of a Billy Goat! This class is much easier than the others.
I’m hoping to generate new ideas and connect seemingly unrelated concepts to create something unique and original. By doing this, I need to practice more, experiment with different gifs and images from giphy.com, and videos from YouTube.com, etc., and have confidence in my work. Always prioritizing quality over perfection.
It’s our fourth week, and I’ve been looking forward to learning something new every week. I’ve never blogged before, but doing it now seems interesting. Learning to embed videos and use GIFs to express myself is my favorite part. I’m excited to see what else I can produce with these little fingers and brilliant brains and eyes of mine.
Regarding the pronunciation of GIF, I’ve always pronounced the word GIF with the hard “g” sound, until I heard the professor pronouncing it with the soft “g” sound, which to me sounds better, both are correctly pronounced. The Smithsonian Magazine also confirmed under the topic, History of GIF “Even dictionaries like Oxford English have unhelpfully declared both pronunciations valid.”. However, the creator of GIF, Stephen Earl Wilhite, states in the article WIRED: The GIF Turn 30 that “That year Steve Wilhite was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Webbys, where he stirred up a mini-controversy by telling the world that GIF is pronounced like the peanut butter brand Jif, not like “gift.”.
First – lets screen the video above together and then later read the hyperlinked articles below for more context. (hint hint – > You should re-watch this video outside of class and reference it in your blog post 🙂
Second – The Assignment #3 Details: A New Blog Post is in order!
Memes have become an integral part of the online world, with new memes constantly popping up on social media platforms like Reddit, Tik Tok, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. But where did these funny images and phrases come from, and how did they become such a popular form of communication? Let’s explore the history of memes and how they have evolved into a unique form of internet communication.
The origins of the modern-day meme can be traced back to the early days of the internet. In the late 1990s, internet users began sharing images and text that had been altered or repurposed in a humorous way. These early memes were often created by hand and circulated on message boards and email chains. The first memes were simple and crude, but they paved the way for the more complex and sophisticated memes we see today.
One of the first internet memes to gain widespread popularity was the “Dancing Baby” in 1996. The Dancing Baby was a 3D animation of a baby that appeared in a television show called “Ally McBeal.” The animation was manipulated and turned into a looping GIF that was shared online. The Dancing Baby became a viral sensation, and its popularity sparked the creation of other memes like “All Your Base Are Belong to Us”
Over the years, memes have evolved into a complex and multifaceted form of communication. Today, memes are often used to convey complex emotions, comment on current events, and even express political views. Memes are a way for people to connect and communicate online, and they often reflect the cultural and social trends of the moment.
One of the most fascinating aspects of memes is the way they spread and evolve. Memes are often created by one person, but they can quickly be adopted and transformed by others. Memes can go through a process of evolution as they are shared and re-shared, with each iteration adding new layers of meaning and humor.
Assignment #3 – Are MEME’s ART?
Let’s write a new blog post ->
***be sure to re-read the FULL assignment criteria and work along side of it to make sure that you are including all aspects of the assignment***
Start by doing an Internet search for; “Are memes ART?”
See what you discover, gather those website links and share them in your new post. (at least 2-3 should be fairly easy to find)
No matter how you cut it, memes are here to stay… but is this good or bad for Art? Is this good or bad for communication? Are memes simply just forms of self-expression? Or are they MORE? Well, why or why not? I want to know what you think.
Can MEMEs be used for storytelling? If so, How? Explain how they are used in your experience here on the Web. Back up your answers with MEMEs and a statement.
Let’s create a compelling way to share our responses! Remember to pay attention to the good blogging skills list example in last week’s post?
And by all means plan to create, search for, discover and share your favorite existing Memes via an image or URL, or embed them into your new blog post for this coming week. You must share at least 3 of your favorite all time MEMEs in this post.
How will you craft a narrative between using Memes and your own personal experiences?
**Oh, and, you MUST create at least 2-4 of your own memes to express your sentiments for our CT101 class! Be sure to include the words: “CT101” in your meme!
Perhaps, you will say “CT101 be like…”
OR, “What if I told you that CT101….”
All of this nestles quite well into in new Blog post! Please consider the formatting of this blog post that you are reading right now. Notice how we see a mixture of images, video and hyperlinks that help give context and reference to where we are drawing resources from.
The anticipation leading up to the first day of CT101 was almost unbearable. I couldn’t help but feel a rush of nerves coursing through me. It was as if I had a swirling storm of butterflies in my stomach, and my hands had this persistent, jittery tremor. I kept thinking about what the class would be like, who my classmates would be, and what the professor’s expectations were. I was feeling happy and nervous kind of like…
When I was selecting my classes, I remember reading the course description for this one, and I couldn’t help but feel excited. My older brother had taken the same class, and he told me all about how the professor gave students a lot of creative freedom when it came to blogging. Hearing about his experience got my creative juices flowing, and I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of it.
Compared to all my other classes, this one is the most relaxed, and it doesn’t make me anxious at all. Usually, I’m dealing with really demanding math or writing-intensive courses that can stress me out to the point where I sometimes just blank out during lectures. However, right now, this class feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s amazing to have this opportunity to explore creative avenues and express myself without the intense pressure of constant problem-solving or essay writing. It’s like a delightful pause button in the midst of a hectic academic schedule, and I’m genuinely enjoying every moment of it.
The idea of seamlessly integrating gifs to craft narratives that truly resonate with me. By using the power of visuals, videos, and well-crafted text, I really have the opportunity to make stories that not only captivate attention but also evoke profound emotions. It’s like having a versatile toolkit to produce narratives that leave a lasting impact on the audience. This class is an exciting avenue for exploring the dynamic world of digital storytelling, and I’m looking forward to the journey ahead.
I’m actually excited about the potential of gaining new skills that use internet tools! It’s as if we’ve arrived in the future of learning, where the world of technology has evolved into a place for growth and creativity. I’m beyond excited about the internet’s endless learning opportunities, since our professor scratched the surface, and I’m already overjoyed! It’s like having a universe of information and resources at my fingertips, and I can’t wait to use it to hone my talents and expand my brain’s creative potential.
When I first entered undergrad it was as an Education and Theatre double major with a goal to become a teaching artist at the local theatre I used to work with in Brooklyn. I was certain that in four years I would be a licensed teacher all while maintaining my passion for the theatre (and dramatics).
And then I took a class with Professor Dr. Precious Yamaguchi. Precious taught most of the New Media courses (what you would call Communications Technology now, I suppose) and designed her classes in a very accessible and engaging way. She was the first professor that really let me know just how different College was from HS. I learned what it was like to have mutual respect with an educator in her class.
The class was a beginner animation course that piqued my interest and it captured my media-loving heart hook, line, and sinker (the state-of-the-art Mac lab didn’t hurt either). We learned the very, very basics of animation and how to use different software that I had only ever heard of.
I was in heaven 😍
The first day of CT101 I felt a similar sort of giddiness. Rather than being excited about starting my college career, I felt happy to be taking classes for the pure enjoyment of education. I’m someone who genuinely enjoys school, so taking a course so in line with my original major feels like taking a lap in the winner’s circle.
(And, once again, the Mac lab doesn’t hurt 🤭)
After years of doing the kind of soulless logic work I’ve grown used to the creative content in the class is like a breath of fresh air. The program I just finished had me crunching numbers in an accounting class, fumbling with SQL, and creating data tables. So, so many data tables. Taking some time to blog and collect gifs and emojis to express my rich inner thoughts? Priceless🥺
Compared to my other class I think this one is a bit more challenging as I have to be creative rather than just engage in memorization. Well, not quite memorization but right now we’re very, very, veryyyyyy slowly. We’re still working through the very first chapter we started out in , which has its value certainly, but I expected… more.
All in all, I’m looking forward to getting into the guts of blogging and creative design using WordPress. The only blogs I’ve ever engaged with were hosted on Blogger so I’m sure much has changed, but so far so good I’ll say!
I Definitely had trouble getting into this class. As a first year, i didn’t know what classes i want. In some ways i still don’t know. As i messed around with my schedule to see the best ways to optimize my time to learn a variety of things, i happened to stubble into this class. I immediately contacted the professor. i was very interested with the course. the website for the course intrigued me even more. Enrolling into the course was a nightmare because of a lot of technical issues but I’m glad all the paper work went through.
On my first day, i was so lost. i didn’t know where anything was and was afraid to ask anyone where the room for the course was. so i roamed around everywhere till i found where i had to be.
The creative aspect of the course excited me. in some ways its easy, yet challenging. some days I’m filled with ideas on what to post and some days my head is empty. but i feel like it lets us express ourselves however we want.
Ct101, to me, seems less stressing then a lot of my other classes. although there isn’t an exact deadline for the assignments, i know i should try and do them as early as possible to not procrastinate. but the freedom is nice to have.
I feel that through this course i can definitely be able to learn to express my thoughts more. it could help me with any future ideas for promoting certain ideas. i also see this as a nice experience to make stuff i enjoy.
As someone who struggles with technology, learning more skills that use internet tools is a big plus. specially because I’m learning to incorporate a lot of media in my writings. But otherwise, id probably freak out trying to learn this on my own.
Life feels like this for me every time the semester starts, walking a fine line trying to balance school, work, family, and personal goals. Dean Potter is the man in the GIF and he is the one who inspired me to start slacklining! This is the full video of Dean highlining with no safety!
Good thing professor Ryan made the first class super enjoyable and exciting! I haven’t taken similar classes so its nice that most of the work is creative and content creation related! (feels good to get away from the standard notebook and onto the computer)
But honestly i feel like Patrick because i am not inclined computer wise. Thankfully most of my other classes are CT related and what i love the most is that its so relevant to todays society that it could be very useful and has unlimited creative potential for all types of people.
I work in catering so my weekends are 16 hour shifts like 9am-1am and on Monday’s i wake up wishing i had this machine to help me relax!
But this is my last semester so i am super excited to graduate and have more time to follow my passions such as rock climbing, slacklining, hiking and adventuring!
I was really surprised on how nice the professor was compared to others. It showed me that he rejects the “normal” way of learning that we normally have and allows us to use our creativity and our own minds. I also liked how understanding he is if you’re late and that he posts the recording of each class.
I liked hearing about the course because the professor explained everything in a very interesting and easy to understand way.
This is my favorite class. My other classes are alright but I don’t feel the excitement that I do for this one. I actually look forward to CT101.
There are no limits on creative potentials for this class. I want to learn as much as I can.
I look forward to learning new skills and how to properly utilize internet tools better.
Recently my favorite anime One Piece is the ending of its arc (a significant story within an anime series that is given focus through more than one episode) after 4 years of being stuck on the same island. It had me happy from ear to ear just cheesing all day! This arc is called Wano and the main character and his crew have been docked in Wano for what feels like an eternity!
So, what’s the deal with Wano? Well, it’s a place where tradition and samurai honor run deep, and the Land of the Samurai has had its fair share of problems. The Straw Hat crew found themselves in the middle of it all, and boy, did things get complicated!
As a fan of One Piece I have been hyped for today’s last episode on the internet I’ve been treated to an extended stay in Wano, and while the wait has been excruciating at times, it’s also allowed for some of the most intricate storytelling and character development in the series. Eiichiro Oda, the creator, has taken his time to craft an unforgettable arc, and we’ve seen the Straw Hat crew grow stronger and form new alliances.
So, while we’ve been on this extended layover in Wano, it’s safe to say that the wait has been worth it. “One Piece” continues to prove why it’s a legendary series, and the Straw Hat Pirates’ stay in Wano has been nothing short of epic. The journey isn’t over, and with each passing chapter, we’re getting closer to the climax of this remarkable saga! So, hoist your anchor, fellow fans, and let’s see where the next chapter takes us on this incredible adventure. This was by far the thing that had me cheesing the most this week!
(That’s my dog watching One Piece. He’s cute I know..)
Below are the final few punches of the last episode of the 4-year arc if you are interested!
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