Internet memes as contested cultural capital: The case of 4chan’s /b/ board

Abstract

This article explores the workings of memes as cultural capital in web-based communities. A grounded analysis of 4chan's /b/ board reveals three main formulations of memes as capital, delineating them as subcultural knowledge, unstable equilibriums, and discursive weapons. While the first formulation follows well-documented notions about subcultural knowledge as a basis for boundary work, the latter two focus on the dualities intrinsic to Internet memes. The contradiction between following conventions and supplying innovative content leads to memes' configuration as unstable equilibriums, triggering constant conflict about their "correct" use. Paradoxically, this struggle highlights collective identity, as it keeps shared culture at the center of discussion. Similarly, when memes are used as jabs at the most intense points of arguments, they function simultaneously as signifiers of superior authoritative status and as reminders of common affinity. Thus, the dualities underpinning memes' structure lead to their performance as contested cultural capital.

News you can use! Evaluating the effectiveness of newsjacking based content on social media

“…Thus, like internet memes, newsjacking will only by successful if there is implicit meaning that resonates with the consumer (Nissenbaum and Shifman, 2017). Hence practitioners should be mindful to consider only widely reported and discussed news stories or ones highly germane Page 23 of 51 Information Technology & People 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 to the target market -as failure to comprehend may simply confuse the consumer about the brand's true positioning and point of differentiation.…”

“…2018), as well as internet memes (Nissenbaum and Shifman, 2017). This does not automatically render less comprehensible content as useless, but will likely generate less favorable responses.…”

Laughing across borders: Intertextuality of internet memes

“…as a response to the refugee crisis). Internet memes also provide opportunities to be creative and playful in a social way (Danet et al 1997) and this adds social capital to the ones involved (Nissenbaum & Shifman 2015). As Knobel & Lankshear (2005) have stressed, the ludic and timely quality of a meme ensures its contagiousness, fecundity, and longevity.…”

Cultural Identity Shift In The Internet Meme Loans

“…Internet memes as multimodal signs and cultural capital in web-based communities are being in the focus of numerous scholars engaged in studies of modality in recent years (Osterroth, 2018;Gal, Shifman, & Kampf, 2016;Shifman, 2013aShifman, , 2013bDanielsson & Selander, 2016;Kanashina, 2018;Diaz & Mauricio, 2013;Miltner, 2014;Zabrodskaya & Milani, 2014;Dynel, 2016;Kanai, 2016;Lainister & Voolaid, 2016;Nissenbaum & Shifman, 2017;Wiggins & Bowers, 2015;Yus, 2017Yus, , 2018aYus, , 2018b.…”