Topic of the thesis: Memes and generational identities.

Abstract: The present research explores the role of Internet memes in the construction and representation of generational identities. The proliferation of memes in mainstream digital culture furthers the need to consider their sociological relevance, investigating how they relate to the imaginary of the demographics that habitually consume them. Specifically, the project asks the following questions: (i) as a product of a web-based participatory culture, in which ways are memes used to shape and perform different generational identities? (ii) How are memes used to express generational belonging and mark social distance with other generational cohorts? (iii) To what extent does meme culture contribute to structure and express a “generational imaginary”? In order to address these issues, the study undertakes a qualitative empirical investigation combining digital methods, visual and linguistic analysis and focus groups. Conceiving memes as a social phenomenon and a cultural marker of generational allegiance, the present research offers two major theoretical contributions: on the one hand, it seeks to advance meme theory with insights on how memes add to contemporary visual culture by constructing a generationally-connotated imaginary; on the other hand, it provides a sociological framework through which the problematic construct of “generation” can be observed and reconceptualised.

Research interests: Meme; Generations; Youth culture; Digital culture; Visual communication; Digital methods; Discourse Analysis; Focus groups.

Graduated from: University of Pisa.

Degrees obtained: MA in Linguistics; BA in Literature and Foreign Languages.

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