Memetic Rhetorics: Toward a Toolkit for Ethical Meming

Sparby, Derek M.

doi:doi:10.3998/mpub.12207107

Derek M. Sparby

Open Access

Resources

Screenshot from 4chan forum with two photos of a man. He is dancing in the first one and looking dejected in the second. Post text above reads, “Spotted this specimen trying to dance the other week. He stopped when he saw us laughing.”

Original Dancing Man post

From Chapter 3

Original Dancing Man post

Cropped versions of the two photographs from Figure 41 appear on a white background. Heading reads, “If you see this image while scrolling the first page.” Text under reads, “You’ve been visited by the Depressed Sweet Dancer. He will stay depressed unless you post ‘Fuck those laughing cunts bro, dance the night away’ in this thread.” Smaller text below reads, “Seriously, fuck those cunts” in parentheses. Post text underneath reads, “Fuck those laughing cunts bro, dance the night away.”

New thread bolstering Dancing Man

From Chapter 3

New thread bolstering Dancing Man

Tweet from Fairbanks shows screencap of original 4chan post from Figure 41 with text that reads “Anyone know this man or who posted this? There’s a huge group of ladies in LA who would like to do something special.”

Tweet from Cassandra

From Chapter 3

Tweet from Fairbanks

Tweet from Cassandra saying they found Sean below a sefie that he tweeted

From Chapter 3

Tweet from Fairbanks saying they found O'Brien below a selfie he tweeted

Screencap of answers to membership questions from group and my response to the post. Question reads, “Why could it be considered disrespectful for men to refer to women as ‘females’ outside of a medical or educational setting?’ Answer reads, “I mean yall are females what u want me to call you? horses? sheit do you guys even listen to yourself anymore jesus christ your fucking retarted.” Question reads, “This is more of a feminist page than a meme page. have you read the rules and agree to follow them?” Answer reads, “prolly not fuck you and your feminism.” My comment below reads “Retarted,” which one person has liked. Response below, in hyperlinked blue text, reads “Derek M Sparby I came here to say this, but knew in my heart it had already been said,” which I haha reacted to. My response below, in hyperlinked blue text, reads “sounds like another fuckin group i gotta join but ok.”

Screencap of OP and conversation between me and another member of “what object are we being compared to today, ladies?”

From Chapter 3

Screencap of OP and conversation between me and another member of “what objects are we being compared to today, ladies?”

Screencapped post that reads, “Ladies . . . in most countries, You have even more rights than men. Some of you are making fun of men here, or in public, in front of us, men. Yeah. Why not? We are not butthurted like you. We take it, and laugh too. But what m, wahmens Have no RigHTs, ReeEe. Right now, I’m on cycling tour with my class. Right now, there are 7 adult women around me. We have very good mood here. We’re having normal, intelligent, funny, or flirting chats between us. When somebody says a joke about women or men, everyone laughs. Nobody goes angry or something, because we know, we’re even. Yeah. You’ve just red that. Men and women are even in most countries (nor Arabic). Yes, there are some general differences, like men are physically better than women, or that women are better in kitchen, or that men are better for math and women for chemistry. But those are general like I said. You can change them, but that’s for individuals. You have to do something with your own mind. Exercise and things like that. Then you’ll be better than some men. You won’t do anything by sharing Facebook posts about women into feminist groups. Trust me, men don’t do that. We don’t care about your jokes about us. So try something else than this shit girls around me are laughing to you. You are useless on this World. You did what you did in history. Women in Arabic states don’t need this, because this is not support. For no one. You’re jist getting lazy and angrier. This is not true feminism, but stupidity or meme page. Open your eyes and go to middle east, if your want to be TRUE FEMINIST. If not . . . you can be used as cannon fodder in next war.” Thread below contains three responses. Response 1: “Is this a copypasta?” Response 2, in blue hyperlinked text: “If this isn’t copypasta, it is now.” Response 3: “Fuck. Came here to say that.”

Screencap of an anti-feminist rant that became copypasta in “what object are we being compared to today, ladies?”

From Chapter 3

Screencap of an antifeminist rant that became copypasta in “what objects are we being compared to today, ladies?”

One person plays two characters, and the camera cuts between them to signify which is speaking. Character one is dressed in purple flannel, jeans, and beanie while carrying a skateboard says, “Oh I just wanted to say I really like your style.” Character two is sitting in a chair reading a book and wearing light jeans, a white t-shirt, a denim jacket, and a wide brimmed hat; they look up from their book and reply, “Are you?” Character two responds, “Are you?”

GIF from @isa.pedro0’s “Gay Code” TikTok

From Chapter 3

GIF from @isa.pedro0’s “Gay Code” TikTok

Two lesbian couples wearing t-shirts and shorts sit on towels near each other at the beach. The camera shifts between couples for each line of dialogue. Someone in the first couple says, “Hey excuse me.” Someone from the first couple answers, “Yeah?” The person from the first person replies, “Oh I just want to say I really like your style.”

GIF from @amanda.jasmin12’s “Gay Code” TikTok

From Chapter 3

GIF from @amanda.jasmin12’s “Gay Code” TikTok

TikTok of me asking for help on the “Gay Code” meme

From Chapter 3

TikTok of me asking for help on the “Gay Code” meme

Camera focuses on the speaker telling a story, sometimes zooming in to emphasize points. Speaker says, “Today at the dog park a woman came up to me and she said, ‘I really like your shoe/sock combo.” I was wearing Doc Marten’s with Nike socks, so I was like.” The speaker then mimes coyly tucking her hair behind her ear.

GIF from @bigqueef’s TikTok about a gay code mixup

From Chapter 3

GIF from @bigqueef’s TikTok about a gay code mixup

One person plays two figures, and the camera cuts between them to signify which is speaking. Both are dressed the same: in a red headband and blue t-shirt. Static caption reads, “When you go to a conservative private university.” Speaker one says, “Hi excuse me I just want to say that I really like your shirt.” Speaker two says, “Are you?” Speaker one replies, “Are you?” Speaker two responds, “Are you fucking liberal?”

GIF of @hannahharvey942’s remix of the “Gay Code” audio

From Chapter 3

GIF of @hannahharvey942’s remix of the “Gay Code” audio

Blake Boston stands in a doorway wearing a backwards cap and a puffy coat. Top text reads, “Gets drunk and pukes on floor.” Bottom text reads, “Puts bathroom mat over top of it.”

Scumbag Steve

From Chapter 4

Scumbag Steve

Laina Morris makes a crazed face. Top text reads, “It’s been over ten minutes since you last said you love me. Bottom text reads, “Are you breaking up with me?”

Overly Attached Girlfriend

From Chapter 4

Overly Attached Girlfriend

Antoine Dodson wearing a red bandana and looking flustered. A network news banner displays his name and identifies him as “victim’s brother.”

Screencap of Antoine Dodson during his interview

From Chapter 4

Screencap of Antoine Dodson during his interview

Maggie Goldenberger with wacky pigtails is wearing a vest and has a handbag hung over her arm. Her trademark Goosebumps books have been replaced with flip flops. Top text reads, “Ermahgerd.” Bottom text reads, “Flerp Flerps.”

Ermahgerd

From Chapter 4

Ermahgerd

Images of Goldenberger in 2015 and as Berks are placed side by side with an accompanying chart and spreadsheet to show the similarities in facial structure. Bold red text reads, “Conclusion: plausible.”

Facial comparison of Goldenberger and Ermahgerd meme

From Chapter 4

Facial comparison of Goldenberger and Ermahgerd meme

Raza in a striped shirt and khaki pants twirls a double-sided lightsaber while performing a stunt.

Modified screencap of Raza with a double-sided lightsaber

From Chapter 4

Modified screencap of Raza with a double-sided lightsaber

Griner giving his signature fist on a blue pinwheel background. Top text reads, “Don’t know a question on a test. Bottom text reads “Answer is in another question.”

Success Kid

From Chapter 4

Success Kid

Justine Sacco's tweet

From Chapter 4

Justine Sacco’s tweet

A white man in a backwards cap and fur coat looks directly at the camera as he stands in a doorway. Top text reads, “You buy the liquor I’ll buy the beer.” Bottom text reads, “Case of Natty Lite.”

Scumbag Steve

From Chapter 5

Scumbag Steve

University of Michigan Press
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Memetic Rhetorics: Toward a Toolkit for Ethical Meming

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Original Dancing Man post

New thread bolstering Dancing Man

Tweet from Cassandra

Tweet from Cassandra saying they found Sean below a sefie that he tweeted

Screencap of OP and conversation between me and another member of “what object are we being compared to today, ladies?”

Screencap of an anti-feminist rant that became copypasta in “what object are we being compared to today, ladies?”

GIF from @isa.pedro0’s “Gay Code” TikTok

GIF from @amanda.jasmin12’s “Gay Code” TikTok

TikTok of me asking for help on the “Gay Code” meme

GIF from @bigqueef’s TikTok about a gay code mixup

GIF of @hannahharvey942’s remix of the “Gay Code” audio

Scumbag Steve

Overly Attached Girlfriend

Screencap of Antoine Dodson during his interview

Ermahgerd

Facial comparison of Goldenberger and Ermahgerd meme

Modified screencap of Raza with a double-sided lightsaber

Success Kid

Justine Sacco's tweet

Scumbag Steve

Memetic Rhetorics: Toward a Toolkit for Ethical Meming

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