In the shadow of the Exploratorium, nestled within the enigmatic folds of San Francisco, Pier 17 harbors the intellectual haven known as Swissnex. It was within this crucible of innovation that I found myself weaving a tapestry of mematic thought and discourse as part of the "Immersion to Action: Science Communication Studio Bootcamp". This fortnight of cerebral exploration is a gathering of minds from the realms of science journalism and multimedia storytelling. I was privileged to contribute my own thread to this intricate weave with a workshop I christened "Memes and the Media Matrix".
Memes, once dismissed as mere internet frivolity, have evolved into powerful vessels of communication, their infectious nature echoing the very essence of our collective consciousness. For journalists, these changes present a new frontier, a memetic matrix that demands navigation. My workshop was born from this necessity, a beacon for those seeking to understand and adapt to the shifting tides of our information ecosystem.
As the day initiated, esteemed journalists settled in with catered bakery delights, their ambient attention tuned to vapor twitch vibes from a CODAME ART+TECH Festival playlist I curated. We dove into a whirlwind of educational material, laughter punctuating the air as certain meta-memes hit their mark.
The heart of our journey was the workshop. Participants paired up, stories were shared, and memes reflecting these narratives were crafted on paper handouts. Amid the flurry of questions and tactical tips, a dance of discovery unfolded. This experience was a testament to the transformative power of the CODAME playshop style, a blend of curiosity, creativity, and shared growth. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to book one for your own team.
Some takeaways from the day:
Imperfect Production & Silly Fun: The old-school pen and paper approach used in the workshop amplified the notion that memes thrive on intentional imperfection. This tactile method of meme creation evoked a palpable immediacy that could be missed in digital environments. The playful, hands-on aspect underscored the power of light-heartedness in breeding creativity and opening channels of communication.
Questionable Themes & PsyOps: With the liberating knowledge of alternative accounts, the attendees were disburdened of the fear of making a "bad" meme. The workshop highlighted the integral role of humor in slicing through the layers of our everyday existence, often pushing us to the precipice of discomfort. It is there, at the edge of absurd offense, that we crack open, making way for the injection of new perspectives—a vital goal of journalism and information transmission.
Embodied Knowledge & Satire/Parody/Ambiguity: The surface-level humor of memes belies the profound undertones of our shared cultural knowledge as interconnected beings. The memes generated weren't merely comical; they encapsulated lived experiences, collective understanding, and communal emotions. Initial reservations about remixing and reusing content gave way to an acknowledgment of its vital role in meme culture. Indeed, every creative act is deeply intertwined with, and derives its significance from, the cultural milieu it stems from.
Our workshop navigated the undulating landscape of humor, imperfection, shared knowledge, and audacious creativity. It laid bare the potential and power of memetic journalism as a conduit for effective science communication. What began as an exploration of the digital wilds of memetic culture metamorphosed into a playground of possibilities.
The stolen memes from the workshop, now immortalized in this newsletter, bear testament to the transformative journey we embarked on—a testament to the fun we shared, the risks we took, and the potent humor we harnessed. In the light of our experience, the notion of future workshops isn't just an idea—it's an exciting prospect. Book a playshop for your team, stay tuned and, most importantly, stay silly.