Memes, History and Emotional Life

Internet memes are a cultural form that uses historical art pieces to comment on both past and present events. They rely on a (mis)reading of the emotions of those represented in such artwork for humorous purposes, providing an example of transhistorical engagement between contemporary society and past artifacts. Humour helps to mediate the disjuncture between past and present emotion and enables historical emotion to do political and community-building work amongst meme users.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Internet memes have gained recognition for their ability to foster community by sharing humor or cultural knowledge within groups. One category of memes utilizes historical art pieces, accompanied by short texts or dialogue, to comment on both past and present events. These memes often exploit a (mis)reading of the emotions portrayed in such artwork for comedic effect. Consequently, they serve as a valuable illustration of the transhistorical interaction between contemporary society and historical artifacts, particularly focusing on the nature of emotion.

This element delves into the historical art meme as a significant cultural form that provides insights into contemporary online emotional cultures. It also explores how historical emotions enable and inform the practices of these cultures. Specifically, it emphasizes the role of humor as a mechanism that bridges the gap between past and present emotions, allowing historical emotions to serve political and community-building purposes among meme users.

Internet memes have become increasingly popular in recent years, with their ability to spread quickly and widely through social media platforms. They often feature humorous images, videos, or text that are relatable to a wide audience and can be shared and commented on by millions of people. One category of memes that has gained popularity in recent years is historical art memes. These memes take historical art pieces, such as paintings, sculptures, or photographs, and pair them with humorous captions or dialogue to create a new context or meaning.

One example of a historical art meme is the "Monkey Meme," which took a famous painting of a monkey by Johannes Vermeer and added a caption that humorously interpreted the monkey's expression. The meme became popular on social media platforms and was shared by millions of people, generating widespread laughter and discussion. Another example is the "Dalai Lama Meme," which took a photograph of the Dalai Lama and added a caption that humorously interpreted his facial expression. The meme became popular on social media platforms and was shared by millions of people, generating widespread laughter and discussion.

Historical art memes can have a powerful impact on society, as they can help to promote cultural awareness and appreciation. They can also help to break down barriers between different cultures and promote understanding and empathy. However, there are also concerns about the potential negative effects of historical art memes. For example, some memes may perpetuate harmful stereotypes or cultural insensitivity, and others may be used to promote political or social agendas that may be harmful to society.

In conclusion, historical art memes have become a popular form of entertainment and social commentary in recent years. They have the ability to promote cultural awareness and appreciation, break down barriers between different cultures, and promote understanding and empathy. However, it is important to be mindful of the potential negative effects of these memes and to ensure that they are used in a responsible and respectful manner.

Weight: 140g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009073295