A DOLGOZÓ MÉM. KLASSZIKUS ÉS DIGITÁLIS MÉMEK KÖZÖSSÉGFORMÁLÓ HATÁSÁNAK ELEMZÉSE DAWKINSI, STAR TREK ÉS TROLLFOCI-MÉMEKEN KERESZTÜL
THE WORKING MEME. ANALYSIS OF THE COMMUNITYFORMING EFFECT OF CLASSICAL AND DIGITAL MEMES THROUGH DAWKINS, STAR TREK AND “TROLLFOCI” MEMES

Author(s): Béla Baliga
Subject(s): Media studies
Published by: Scientia Kiadó
Keywords: classical and digital memes; Richard Dawkins; Star Trek; Trollfoci;
Summary/Abstract: The concept of meme was introduced to the public consciousness in1986 by Richard Dawkins. Perhaps he himself did not think how much brainstorming and controversy this concept would generate, or that it would now create a separate field of research. Nowadays, thanks to advances in technology, the world has accelerated considerably: we travel faster, we communicate faster — as our messages reach the recipient almost immediately — and because of this, perhaps every new generation thinks faster than the previous one. This development is exponentially true for memes. Relying on the literature, in my study I distinguish between classical and digital memes and examine their presence and effects in the society in an overview-like way. After reviewing the two categories, I will illustrate the issue with several examples for each category. In line with Dawkins’s theory, I interpret culturally rooted phenomena that are, by definition, memes: e.g. handshake, clothing fashion and commercials. In the case of digital meme, analysis of StarTrek and “Trollfoci” memes makes interpretation possible.

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