Logics: The Fundamentals of Memetic Participation (2024)

The World Made Meme: Public Conversations and Participatory Media

Ryan M. Milner

Published:

2016

Online ISBN:

9780262335911

Print ISBN:

9780262034999

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The World Made Meme: Public Conversations and Participatory Media

Ryan M. Milner

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Ryan M. Milner

Ryan M. Milner

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11–42

  • Published:

    October 2016

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Milner, Ryan M., 'Logics: The Fundamentals of Memetic Participation', The World Made Meme: Public Conversations and Participatory Media (Cambridge, MA, 2016; online edn, MIT Press Scholarship Online, 18 May 2017), https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262034999.003.0002, accessed 12 Sept. 2024.

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Abstract

This chapter introduces the fundamentals of memetic media. It traces the (imperfect) connections between conceptualizations of memes as cultural replicators and the mediated texts that have come to bear the name in pop cultural parlance. It then outlines five fundamental logics central to memetic participation. Memetic media are unique for their multimodality (their expression in multiple modes of communication), reappropriation (their “poaching” of existing texts), resonance (their connections to individual participants), collectivism (their social creation and transformation), and spread (their circulation through mass networks). These logics persist beyond individual texts, and are lynchpins for public conversations occurring across mediated contexts.

Keywords: Internet Memes, Memetics, Media Studies, Participatory Culture, Discourse Analysis

Subject

Technology and Society

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FAQs

What are the five logics of memes? ›

Multimodality refers to the way memes mix together different media, from still images to audio, video, and text. It is the first of five “logics” that Milner discerns in memes. The other four logics are reappropriation, resonance, collectivism, and spread.

Why did memetics fail? ›

Criticisms of memetics include claims that memes do not exist, that the analogy with genes is false, that the units cannot be specified, that culture does not evolve through imitation, and that the sources of variation are intelligently designed rather than random.

What does it mean if something is memetic? ›

: the study of memes. Memetics sees ideas as a kind of virus, sometimes propagating in spite of truth and logic. Its maxim is: Beliefs that survive aren't necessarily true, rules that survive aren't necessarily fair and rituals that survive aren't necessarily necessary.

What are the memetic processes? ›

Memetics stands out among other interdisciplinary theories that consider the development of culture and society through the prism of biological phenomena, because it is based on the concept of the biological replicator, meme and the mechanisms of cultural evolution are understood by analogy with biological evolution.

What is the philosophy behind memes? ›

Dawkins conceived of memes as the cultural parallel to biological genes and considered them, in a manner similar to “selfish” genes, as being in control of their own reproduction and thus serving their own ends.

What are 4 characteristics of a meme? ›

Characteristics of memes include their susceptibility to parody, their use of intertextuality, their propagation in a viral pattern, and their evolution over time.

What is an example of a memetic? ›

Memetic evolution involves meme replication and distribution often through cultural transmission. For example, a man may share the story of his latest dream about a rocking chair amongst friends. Those friends then share that dream with their families, each interpreting the story a bit differently.

What is meme short for? ›

The word “meme” comes from the Greek mimema, meaning something that has been “imitated.” According to Britannica, the word was first introduced by Richard Dawkins, a British biologist, in his book The Selfish Gene; his intention was for “meme” to sound similar to "gene.” In his book, Dawkins makes a direct connection ...

Why did memetics fail comparative case study? ›

Williams and Richard Dawkins. The strict adoption of this argument predisposed memeticists with the a priori idea that there is no evolution without discrete units of selection, which in turn, made them dependent on the principal separation of biological and memetic fitness.

What do you call a person who makes memes? ›

Noun. memer (plural memers) (Internet slang) A person who creates or distributes memes (usually humorous material copied and circulated online).

What do you call a person who loves memes? ›

19 other terms for meme lover. mememan. memelyte. be a memelord. meme addict.

What is a synonym for the word memetic? ›

Synonyms of mimetic. 1. : imitative. 2. : relating to, characterized by, or exhibiting mimicry.

What is the philosophy of memetics? ›

Memetic theory, or memetics, is a scientific field related to how units of information evolve and replicate. These units of information, called memes, undergo a process of natural selection comparable to that of genes.

What is the memetic engineering method? ›

According to the theory, memetic engineering is, simply put, the analysis of an individual or individuals' behavior, the selection of specific memes and the distribution or propagation of those memes with the intent of altering the behavior of others.

What is the difference between memetic and mimetic? ›

Memetics is the study of memes, cultural units of information that replicate, comparable with Darwinian evolution. In memetic theory (Richard Dawkins) it's not well understood why memes spread, it's somewhat of a mystery. Mimetic theory is how and why memes and desires spread.

What are the five logical? ›

The Five (5) Common Logical Connectives or Operators

Logical Negation. Logical Conjunction (AND) Logical Disjunction (Inclusive OR) Logical Implication (Conditional) Logical Biconditional (Double Implication)

What are the four stages of meme? ›

To be replicated, a meme must pass successfully through four subsequent stages: 1) assimilation by an individual, who thereby becomes a host of the meme; 2) retention in that individual's memory; 3) expression by the individual in language, behavior or another form that can be perceived by others; 4) transmission of ...

What are your meme rules? ›

The rules are simple. Each round, a rotating judge plays a Photo Card and everyone else plays a Caption Card to complete the meme. The judge decides the funniest pairing, and whoever played the winning Caption Card wins the round. Lather, rinse, repeat.

What is meme strategy? ›

What is meme marketing? Meme marketing is a strategy that incorporates memes into your marketing content to attract audience, communicate ideas and increase awareness.

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