Ryzhkov K.L. —
Classification of Internet memes in realities of 2021
// Culture and Art. – 2021. – ¹ 9.
– P. 18 - 28.
DOI: 10.7256/2454-0625.2021.9.36456
URL: https://en.e-notabene.ru/camag/article_36456.html
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Abstract: The subject of this research is the corpus of the Internet memes of the English-language and Russian-language segments of the Internet. The object is the classification of the Internet memes, the division of relevant memes into the categories on various grounds. The author explores the emergence of new methods of content creation on the Internet, proliferation of popular culture and use of the concept of post-irony, as well as reflection of the latest social and political events in memes. Special attention is given to the detailed analysis of specific examples of the internet memes and their modifications by the users: the format of meme implies variability and possible modification by any content consumer. The main conclusions lies in the highlighted and illustrated examples of the new categories of Internet memes. The author’s special contribution consists in determination of the new categories of memes: post-ironic memes; memes created and spread via TikTok platform; and memes related to the reflection of coronavirus infection and its consequences in popular culture. The novelty of this research is define by classification and description of the aforementioned categories of Internet memes, as well as by outlining the prospects for further expansion of the classification. The article employs the methods of contextual and structural analysis of the corpus of the Internet memes; determines and groups the types of meme variations; and describes the potential for their transformation.