Document Type
Article
Date
Summer 7-18-2024
Keywords
Cybernetics, media theory, memetics, memory, posthumanism, protocological analysis, virtuality, vitalism
Language
English
Disciplines
Archival Science | Communication Technology and New Media | Critical and Cultural Studies | Databases and Information Systems | Digital Humanities | Library and Information Science | Social and Cultural Anthropology | Social Media
Description/Abstract
Recent fears of data capitalism and colonialism often argue using implicit assumptions about cybernetic technology’s ability to automate data about culture. As such, the level of data granularity made possible by cybernetic engineering can be used to dominate society and culture. Here we unpack these implicit assumptions about the datafication of culture through memes, which both act as cultural data and cultural memory. Using Alexander Galloway’s critical method of protocological analysis and descriptions of media tactics, we respond to fears of cybernetic domination. Protocols – the source by which cybernetic technologies enable automated datafication – enables us to respond to fears with optimism, and it further enables a more extensive development of how memetic memory functions. Our development shows that memetic memory often emerges before cybernetic datafication, offering moments of resistance from cybernetic domination. Further, this development enables a vitalist development of memetic memory, borrowing from Bergsonian theory and related contemporary media theories. Such a work contributes by providing cybernetic context in which culture, characterized through memes, resists cybernetic domination. In the process of this contribution, it also contributes a novel theory of memetic memory. Inspired by recent posthuman new media theory, we provide a novel reading of Richard Dawkins’ genetically inspired meme as well as Limor Shifman’s notion of memetic ‘stance’. Taken together, we contribute the beginnings of a memetic theory of vitalism which speaks more readily with critical cybernetic discourse.
ISSN
1354-8565
Recommended Citation
Smith, Alexander O. and Loewen-Colón, Jordan, "Memetic memory as vital conduits of troublemakers in digital culture" (2024). School of Information Studies - Post-doc and Student Scholarship. 19.
https://surface.syr.edu/ischoolstudents/19
Source
submission
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Archival Science Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Databases and Information Systems Commons, Digital Humanities Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Social Media Commons
