Meme
In relation to Shifman’s meme classification, I chose a meme(s) that would fall under his third category, “Memes as modes of expression and public discussion” (123). The Burning of Notre Dame exposed how elites and the rich work. It was said the Notre Dame got well over billion dollars in donations from many Billionaires, specifically French. Not to say the Notre Dame isn’t worth funding for reconstruction, but people quickly realized how some powerful figures only care about particular causes when it concerns them. The undertones felt a bit classist/racist and noticed that privilege was being used. Like do these billionaires not have money to you know... help global poverty? instead of like... a historical building that will obviously regenerate wealth by itself because it's a historical landmark.
The Hill had a news headline of how the White House will be donating to Notre Dame and the backlash began, but with MEMES! Many Twitter users were using memes and quoted tweets as a humorous yet critical way to call out the government for prioritizing a historical building over humanitarian crises. In this era, memes don’t even have to be a picture, it can be tweet or text (ex. 2). These memes obviously didn’t spark a grassroots movement but it was a way for people to discuss how faulty this statement of assistance to France from the White house is when there are other domestic issues that need attention, perhaps... medical care, abortion rights, Native rights, Flint Michigan, Puerto Rico, Police Brutality, Homelessness, Our education system..... just to name a few.
Shifman noticed memes are a great way for public opinions to get circulated to gain traction and start a much needed discussion or debate. A generous act by the White House turned into political outrage very quickly. Since memes can be easily reproduced to your liking, many users were pulling up their own criticism from existing memes already (the cheating guy one, which has been re-used so many times). Even though these memes are meant for viral attraction due to the dark internet humor, it still has a valid points worth investigating and getting mad over. To think a French historical landmark is getting more funds than people in poverty and natural disasters is unethical. As a Twitter user myself, it got me to realize should I really be sad over a European landmark? The artwork and history is beautiful but as a person who does value social justice, I wish these billionaires had the same energy for people who actually need their help. It created a discourse about accountability and exposing elites that are prioritizing the wrong causes. This internet meme was both educational and a realization that our world needs to start caring more about our own kind.
(statement from the whitehouse)