Social Media News 11.30

• It's the end of the world as we know it: "Perineum sunning" sweeps Instagram (CNET)
• TikTok under fire for its handling of anti-China user (ABC News)
• Tracy Ellis Ross' rules for posting on Instagram (Guardian)
• Coming soon on Fox: Nick Cannon’s Hit Viral Videos (Deadline) 
• Doctors take to TikTok to share health info with teens (CNBC)

Week 15: Tue11.26/Thu 11.28

Week 15: Tue11.26/Thu 11.28 (NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING)

Class: Multimedia presentations; Lecture—"Memes Rule the Internet: Share If You Agree”

UPCOMING:

Week 16: Tue 12.3/Thu 12.5 (LAST REGULAR CLASS MEETING)

Class: Course wrap-up

Due: IMAGE MACRO FINAL DRAFT—Thu 12.5 (Email to dhdelao@gmail.com by 7 pm)*

*Note new due date

Final Exam Meeting Times:

Sec. 6- 

Week 17: THU 12.12  

Time: 7:15 – 9:00 a.m., Location: TBA

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 5 P.M.)

Sec. 16- 

Week 18: MON 12.16

Time: 7:15 – 9:00 a.m., Location: TBA

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 5 P.M.)

Extra Credit: "I Bet Nobody Will Share This Post"—Creating an Image Macro

As you know, a "meme" typically refers to an activity, concept, catchphrase, or piece of media which spreads "virally" via the Internet. We will focus on what is arguably the most popular form of meme today: the "image macro." An image macro is an illustration or photograph with text (typically in Impact font) superimposed onto it. For this extra credit assignment*, you will create and examine memes, specifically image macros, from three vantage points: you will dissect one, you will rehabilitate one, and you will create one.

*Worth up to 10 points

Part I: Anatomy of an Image Macro
You are first tasked with analyzing one of the following image macros:

A.

B.

C.

In you analysis, consider:

1. How would you describe the premise? 
2. What is the meme's intended effect? Does it achieve it?
3. What does the viewer have to be "in" on in order for the meme to succeed? What do you miss if you're not "in" on the joke?

Word count: 250 words

***

Part II:  Rehabilitating an Image Macro
For this section, you will choose a less successful image macro (of which there are many), and examine its shortcomings. In your review, explore the reasons the meme falls short. What was its likely original intent? How was it poorly executed? Is it logically sound? Most importantly, how would you improve it?

Note: Cut and paste your image macro into Part II of the document

Word count: 125 words

***

Part III: An Image Macro is Born
First, using one of the images below, you will create an original image macro. The goal is to successfully marry image and text into a succinct and effective message. Use one of the stock images below. Secondly, encapsulate your image macro in a short summary. Explain what your goal was and how image and text came together to execute your vision.

Notes: 1. Use traditional Impact font in your design.  2. Cut and paste your image macro into Part II of the document

Word count: 125 words

***

Written requirements:

• MLA Style 

Sources for image macros:

• KnowYourMeme  
• Cheezeburger
• Imgur  
• TheChive|Memes
• Memes.com
• Reddit/r/memes

Note: Many of these sites contain NSFW material

Due:

FINAL DRAFT—Fri 12.13 (Email to dhdelao@gmail.com by 7 pm)

Social Media News 11.20

• Baby Yoda wins the Internet (Time)
• Whale is Facebook's new meme-creating app (TheNextWeb)
• It's official: Boomers love Snapchat (FastCompany) 
• Mashups: iPhone group chats and TikToks (BusinessInsider)
• The League dating app pairs up users for two-minute live video dates (TheVerge)

Week 14: Tue11.19/Thu 11.21

Week 14: Tue11.19/Thu 11.21

Class: Multimedia presentations

Due: INFOGRAPHIC (FINAL DRAFT; EMAIL TO DHDELAO@GMAIL.COM BY 5 P.M.)

Upcoming:

Week 15: Tue11.26/Thu 11.28 (NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING)

Class: Multimedia presentations; Lecture—"Memes Rule the Internet: Share If You Agree”

Week 16: Tue 12.3/Thu 12.5 (LAST REGULAR CLASS MEETING)

Class: Course wrap-up

Due: MEME (FINAL DRAFT; EMAIL TO DHDELAO@GMAIL.COM BY 5 P.M.)

Final Exam Meeting Times:

Sec. 6- 

Week 17: THU 12.12  

Time: 7:15 – 9:00 a.m., Location: TBA

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 5 P.M.)

Sec. 16- 

Week 18: MON 12.16

Time: 7:15 – 9:00 a.m., Location: TBA

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 5 P.M.)

Social Media News 11.16

• Report: TikTok surpasses 1.5 billion downloads (CNET)
• 5.4 billion: The number of fake accounts Facebook is shutting down this year (CNN)
• Tinder comes to the aid of its trans users (BBC News)
• Influencers see their incomes soar (BBC News)
• Thai tourist dies taking selfie at waterfall (CBS News)

 

Week 13: Tue 11.12/Thu 11.14

Week 13: Tue 11.12/Thu 11.14

Class: Multimedia presentations

Due: INFOGRAPHIC (DRAFT 1; BRING 1 HARD COPY OR AN ELECTRONIC VERSION)

Upcoming:

Week 14: Tue11.19/Thu 11.21

Class: Multimedia presentations

Due: INFOGRAPHIC (FINAL DRAFT; EMAIL TO DHDELAO@GMAIL.COM BY 5 P.M.)

Week 15: Tue11.26/Thu 11.28 (NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING)

Class: Multimedia presentations; Lecture—"Memes Rule the Internet: Share If You Agree”

Week 16: Tue 12.3/Thu 12.5 (LAST REGULAR CLASS MEETING)

Class: Course wrap-up

Due: MEME (FINAL DRAFT; EMAIL TO DHDELAO@GMAIL.COM BY 5 P.M.)

Final Exam Meeting Times:

Sec. 6- 

Week 17: THU 12.12  

Time: 7:15 – 9:00 a.m., Location: TBA

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 5 P.M.)

Sec. 16- 

Week 18: MON 12.16

Time: 7:15 – 9:00 a.m., Location: TBA

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 5 P.M.)

Infographic: So You've Been Publicly Shamed

As Jon Ronson illustrates in So You've Been Publicly Shamed, Internet "justice"—in the Twitterverse, in particular—can be swift, harsh, and unforgiving. Our lives can be easily be ruined if social media decides we are a villain. But unlike past generations that have utilized shaming as form of punishment, Internet shaming can follow an individual for the rest of their life.

For this assignment, you will create an infographic illustrating the public shaming of a person profiled in Ronson's book. Your goal is to visually tell his or her shaming story. Draw only from So You've Been Publicly Shamed for your central argument.

Infographics are most easily utilized in PowerPoint (or a comparable program). Additionally, if you are experienced in them, you may also use Photoshop or Illustrator.

This assignment will be delivered electronically.

A well-executed infographic will:

• Have a title that articulates the goal of the assignment
• Have a concise thesis as the subheading—important
• Have a concise controlling argument dictating the design
• Visually translate perspectives and facts in a clear and enlightening manner
• Stay within the parameters of public shaming on Twitter

Due:

• Thu 11.14: DRAFT 1; BRING 1 HARD COPY OR AN ELECTRONIC VERSION)
• Thu 11.21: FINAL DRAFT; EMAIL TO DHDELAO@GMAIL.COM BY 5 P.M.)

Social Media News 11.6

• Here are the most shared fake news stories on Facebook in 2019 (BusinessInsider)
• Facebook's secrets exposed (BusinessInsider)
• FTC issues regulations for ads by Instagram influences (NPR)
• Twitter may be rethinking retweets (TheVerge)
• Yes, even Trader Joe's has influencers (Vox)

 

Week 12: Tue 11.5/Thu 11.7

Week 12: Tue 11.5/Thu 11.7

Read: SHAMED—7. Journey to a Shame-Free Paradise – 15. Your Speed

Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations

Due: REFLECTION 5

Upcoming:

Week 13: Tue 11.12/Thu 11.14

Class: Multimedia presentations

Due: INFOGRAPHIC (DRAFT 1; BRING 1 HARD COPY OR AN ELECTRONIC VERSION)

Week 14: Tue11.19/Thu 11.21

Class: Multimedia presentations

Due: INFOGRAPHIC (FINAL DRAFT; EMAIL TO DHDELAO@GMAIL.COM BY 5 P.M.)

Week 15: Tue11.26/Thu 11.28 (NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING)

Class: Multimedia presentations; Lecture—"Memes Rule the Internet: Share If You Agree”

Week 16: Tue 12.3/Thu 12.5 (LAST REGULAR CLASS MEETING)

Class: Course wrap-up

Due: MEME (FINAL DRAFT; EMAIL TO DHDELAO@GMAIL.COM BY 5 P.M.)

Final Exam Meeting Times:

Sec. 6- 

Week 17: THU 12.12  

Time: 7:15 – 9:00 a.m., Location: TBA

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 5 P.M.)

Sec. 16- 

Week 18: MON 12.16

Time: 7:15 – 9:00 a.m., Location: TBA

Due: ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT (SUBMIT VIA CANVAS BY 5 P.M.)

Social Media News 11.2

• Rep. Katie Hill resigns over nude photos. Is this the new norm for Millennial politicians? (Daily Telegraph)
• Viral video of "Swing Set Susan" leads to arrest for impersonating a police officer (NBC News) 
• YouTube now bigger fro music videos than MTV ever was (Forbes)
• PewDiePie is first YouTuber to hit 102 million subscribers (Dexerto)
• "No joke, I need him eliminated as soon as possible": Teen is arrested after alleged remarks on Instagram (Buzzfeed)

Reflection 5: Infected—On Viral Videos

Viral videos—those videos that quickly gain popularity throughout the Internet are seemingly made for an era in which information is transmitted rapidly and social networks are the new water coolers. Sometimes entertaining, sometimes even annoying, these videos often take on a life of their own, even if their shelf life is short. Yet, for every "Gangnam Style" there are thousands of videos that no one ever pays any attention to. Why? What is it magic formula for a video going viral? And what of the stars of these videos? While many people were inadvertently (and regrettably) associated with viral videos, many others hope that they will catapult them to stardom. Have viral videos become a shortcut to fame? And are they a legitimate way to break into show business? Finally, what are some of your favorite viral videos and why?

Find at at least two relevant articles in include in your discussion.

Required:

• MLA Style
• Approximately 250 words
• Works cited page

Due: Thu 11.7