Abstract
This paper focuses on identifying the usage patterns amongst Gen-Z in regard to political memes on social media platforms in India. Memes have been observed as unconventional ways of expressing political dissent with the rise of the networked society. With the growth in the use of social media platforms as forums for public dialogue and sharing of political opinions, memes are seen to be extensively used not just for creative expression but also in regard to sensitizing a larger virtual community about various political discourses. Memes which are commonly known as ‘idea viruses’ have garnered greater acceptability and virality on different social media platforms. They too have evolved from the biological definition given to it by Richard Dawkins back in 1970’s to the concept of ‘cultural artifacts’ on the internet. Political memes as a sub-category have acquired a popular status and are extensively shared on different social networking sites. They are often considered as a part of the participatory political culture on the internet and are associated with ‘networked individualism’. In the case of India, especially in regard to Gen-Z, the use of social media is evolving complementary to the different ways of experimenting and engaging with political discourses.The study, therefore, seeks to understand the usage patterns of political memes by Gen-Z on social media and whether it complements the model of Data-Knowledge-Action in a networked setup. It also aims to understand the kind of sensitization it is shaping within a larger virtual community of Gen-Z in India.
Presenters
Namit Vikram SinghGuest Lecturer, Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi, Delhi, India Dr. Durgesh Tripathi
G.G.S. Indraprastha University, New Delhi Surbhi Tandon
PhD Candidate, University School of Mass Communication, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Memes, Political Dissent, Gen-Z, Social Media, Network Society
