ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Given the highly interactive nature of the website “The Rhetoric of Memes,” it is almost impossible to represent the project in other accessible formats. The website is rich with links that open onto new pages, creating a virtually infinite navigation. Here, we provide descriptions of the pages accessible through the home page navigation menu. We are aware that these descriptions cannot replicate the experience of navigating through the website.

DESCRIPTION by Simone Sessolo

Edited by Rachel Mazique
HOME PAGE

TITLE – Top left corner of page:

The Rhetoric of Memes

NAVIGATION MENU – Top left corner of page, under title:

About, Memes, Works Cited

IMAGE DESCRIPTION OF HOME PAGE

The background is a yellow legal pad. The page title “Memes” is on the right side of the navigation menu. Under the page title, there is a grid with images for the image-macro memes. There are 18 images (6 lines, 3 images per line). Each image is a link to another page. Each image has a subtitle. Going left to right, and top to bottom, the images are as follows: The actor Chuck Norris with a jeans vest, holding two automatic guns, with an American flag in the background – subtitle: Chuck Norris; The actor Gene Wilder dressed in purple, the image is a shot from the movie Willy Wonka – subtitle: Condescending Wonka; The actor Keanu Reeves, in a close-up, looking preoccupied – subtitle: Conspiracy Keanu; A close-up of a woman crying – subtitle: First World Problems; A close-up of a young man smoking a cigarette – subtitle: Good Guy Greg; A traditional picture of Jesus, with Ray Ban glasses – subtitle: Hipster Jesus; An Arab man, with a beard – subtitle: Ordinary Muslim Man; A young man with a red sleeveless t-shirt, the shirt has a bald eagle and an American flag – subtitle: Redneck Randall; A smiling middle-aged man, in a blue shirt, with arms crossed, in front of a white board with mathematical formulas – subtitle: Scumbag Professor; A guy with a fur coat and a baseball hat backwards, standing on a doorway – subtitle: Scumbag Steve; A black guy professionally dressed, with jacket and tie – subtitle: Successful Black Man; a still-shot from the movie “Office Space,” representing the actor Gary Cole holding a coffee mug – subtitle: That’d Be Great; A happy toddler dressed in a baseball white t-shirt, with green sleeves, doing the fist in sign of victory – subtitle: Success Kid; Actor Jonathan Goldsmith, a still from a Dos Equis beer commercial – subtitle: The Most Interesting Man in the World; A teenager with a red tartan vest, awkwardly smiling, with braces – subtitle: Bad Luck Brian; A brick road, with red and gray bricks, two bricks are misplaced – subtitle: You Had One Job; the green head of a T-Rex dinosaur, on a green background, its claw scratching its chin – subtitle: Philosoraptor; a drawing of a penguin walking rightwards, on a blue background – subtitle: Socially Awkward Penguin.

BOTTOM PAGE MENU – Centered reads:

Sign In, Recent Site Activity, Report Abuse, Print Page, Powered by Google Sites

ABOUT PAGE:

The background is a yellow legal pad. The title “The Rhetoric of Memes” is on the top left corner. The navigation menu is on the top left corner, under the title: About, Memes, Works Cited. The page title “About” is on the right side of the navigation menu. Under the page title, there is the subtitle “Webmasters.” Under the subtitle there are two names, on a vertical list: “Simone Sessolo, Website administrator” and “Nadeem Persico-Shammas, Managing Editor.” Under the list there is the subtitle “Contributors.” Under the subtitle, text: “We are a group of students participating in a mini-course at the University of Michigan about the rhetoric of memes, taught by Dr. Simone Sessolo [the name is a link to another page]. This site houses our analyses of common Internet memes. Our studies examine what image-macro memes say and how they say it, so we look at memes from the perspective of visual and argumentative rhetoric. We believe that memes not only entertain, they also make claims about the world and how it does, could, and should work.” Under the text, there is a vertical list of 11 names, each name is a link to another page, with a short bio for the contributor: Tim Faerber, Sara Hamel, Sydney Hamilton, Tyler Hughes, Marissa Kaucheck, Sonya Kotov, Victoria Kuipers, Emma Kuslits, Philip Maxwell, Nadeem Persico-Shammas, Jennifer Pirri. Under the list, there is the logo of the Sweetland Center for Writing: a white background, a yellow block M on the right side, followed by the text: LSA Gayle Morris Sweetland Center for Writing University of Michigan.

BOTTOM PAGE MENU – Centered

WORKS CITED PAGE:

The Background is a yellow legal pad. The title “The Rhetoric of Memes” is on the top left corner. The navigation menu is on the top left corner, under the title: About, Memes, Works Cited. The page title “Works Cited” is on the right side of the navigation menu. Under the page title, there is a vertical list of sources:

Under the list of sources, there is an Editor’s Note and the bottom page menu.

MEME PAGES

These descriptions represent the images present in the meme pages.

CHUCK NORRIS

Top of the page. A drawing of actor Chuck Norris. The background resembles a fiery sunset. Chuck Norris wears a sleeveless jeans vest. He holds two machine guns. He looks straight at the viewer.

One third down the page. A picture of Chuck Norris dressed in a karate outfit, doing a karate move. He stands on one leg, the other leg is high, on a kick.

Two thirds down the page. A picture of Chuck Norris, with a sleeveless jeans vest, holding two machine guns. The background is an American flag.

Bottom of the page. A close up of Chuck Norris. This is a more recent picture. Chuck Norris looks older here. He is serious. He stares at the viewer.

CONDESCENDING WONKA

Top of the page. A picture of actor Gene Wilder. He is dressed in purple, performing the character Willy Wonka. The picture is a still from the Movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Text: Top of the picture: You have a terrible hangover? Bottom of the picture: Go on about how you are never going to drink again.

CONSPIRACY KEANU

Top of the page, on the right. A picture of Actor Keanu Reeves. He looks preoccupied. Text: Top of the picture: What if all sports are staged. Bottom of the picture: And wrestlers are just the worst actors.

One third down the page. Same picture. Text: Top of the picture: What if the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs was a ufo… Bottom of the picture: And we’re the aliens.

Two thirds down the page. Same picture. Text: Top of the picture: What if Ben. Bottom of the picture: Knows how to get all the trophies but he don’t want to tell us how to get them.

Bottom of the page: A picture of young Keanu Reeves. He does the fist in sign of victory. He’s dressed in a white t-shirt with a black leather vest. The picture is a still from the movie Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS

Top of the page, on the right. A picture of a white woman, with brown hair, crying.

One third down the page. Same picture. Text: Top of the picture: The weather is getting nice. Bottom of the picture: I can’t avoid shaving my legs anymore.

Two thirds down the page. Same picture. Text: Top of the picture: My old iPad case doesn’t fit my new iPad air. Bottom of the picture: Now I can’t prop it up in bed and watch Netflix late at night.

Bottom of the page. Same picture. Text: Top of the picture: My turban came out really nice today. Bottom of the picture: All my friends are white and can’t tell.

GOOD GUY GREG

Top of the page. A series of 6 pictures, in two rows, three pictures each row. The picture shows a young man smiling. He has a cigarette on his lips. From left to right, top to bottom:

Picture 1: Text: top: Changes setting of toaster. Bottom: Changes it back so you won’t burn your toast. Picture 2: Text: top: Finds your dead body. Bottom: Deletes internet history before calling the police. Picture 3: Text: top: Signs up for a website. Bottom: Reads terms and conditions. Picture 4: Text: top: Knocks ashtray onto floor. Bottom: Guys where do you keep the vacuum? Picture 5: Text: top: Notice you left yourself logged into facebook. Bottom: Logs you out. Picture 6: Text: top: Everyone in class sees he has gum. Bottom: Gives everyone a piece.

Toward the bottom of the page, there are 5 more pictures. Same image. They are alternatively on the right and left side of page.

Picture 1: Same as picture 5 above. Picture 2: Text: top: Says “Cool Story Bro.” Bottom: Means it. Picture 3: Same as picture 4 above. Picture 4: same as picture 2 above. Picture 5: Text: top: His team loses. Bottom: It’s because Miami is better.

HIPSTER JESUS

Top of the page, on the left. A traditional picture of Jesus, with Ray Ban glasses. Text: top: I died for your sins. Bottom: Before you did them.

One fourth down the page, on the right. Another traditional picture of Jesus, with sunglasses. Text: top: I had followers… Bottom: Before Twitter…!

Two fourths down the page, on the left. Another traditional picture of Jesus, with glasses. Text: top: I was into comebacks. Bottom: Before they were cool.

Three fourths down the page, on the left. Same picture as the one on top of the page. Text: top: Jewish? No I’m Christian. Bottom: You’ve probably never heard of it.

ORDINARY MUSLIM MAN

Top of the page, on the left. A picture of an Middle Eastern man, bearded, wearing a kufi hat. The background is in shades of brown. Text: top: Unmarried women should be covered. Bottom: By health insurance. Fuck republicans.

One third down the page, on the left. Same picture. Text: top: Death to America. Bottom: Online. I just signed up for DSL.

Right under the above picture, on the right. Same picture. Text: top: My wife is my property. Bottom: Management specialist at my real estate office.

REDNECK RANDALL

The page has two pictures under the title. Both pictures show a white young man, with mustache, dressed in a sleeveless red t-shirt. The shirt shows an American flag shaped as a bald eagle. Each picture is a link to another page.

Picture on the left. Text: top: I told that Spanish speaking lady. Bottom: If English was good enough for Jesus it’s good enough for me. Subtitle: Bakhtin and Rednecks by Philip Maxwell/

Picture on the right. Text: top: So I stood up and told that teaching lady. Bottom: The only 3 letters I need to know are U, S, and A. Subtitle: Bakhtinian Analysis of Redneck Randall.

Page 1 (left link)

One third down the page, on the left. Same meme as the one on the left in the previous page.

Two thirds down the page, on the right. Same picture. Text: top: I don’t know anything about North Korea. Bottom: But the South shall rise again.

Page 2 (right link)

One third down the page, on the left. Same meme as the one on the right in the previous page.

Two thirds down the page, on the left. Same picture. Text: top: So I told that dress code enforcer lady. Bottom: The constitution gives me the right to bare arms.

SCUMBAG PROFESSOR

Top of the page, centered, under the title. The picture shows a middle-aged white man with glasses, smiling, wearing a light blue shirt, with arms crossed, in front of a white board covered with formulas and text. Text: top: Class, you exceeded my expectations on the last exam. Bottom: Average score: 47%.

One fourth down the page, on the left. Same picture. Text: top: Classwork: 2+2=4. Bottom: Test: John had 3 apples and lost 1. Calculate the mass of the sun.

Two fourths down the page, on the right. Same picture. Text: top: You did a great job on that paper! Bottom: B minus.

Three fourths down the page, on the left. Same picture. Text: top: The test should only take an hour if you know the material. Bottom: Takes three weeks to make an answer key.

Toward the bottom of the page, on the right. Same picture. Text: top: Makes you buy 300 dollar textbook. Bottom: He’s the author.

SCUMBAG STEVE

Top of the page, centered, under the title. The picture shows a young man, dressed in a fur coat, with a baseball hat turned around, standing on a doorway. Text: top: Makes fun of you for your job. Bottom: Has no job.

Below that picture, on the left, there is a graph showing the interest this particular meme has had over time. Interest peaked in 2011 when the meme apparently first appeared. It then declined before experiencing the second highest peak towards the end of 2012. Since then, interest has steadily declined, but the meme occassionally resurfaces as interest peaks again (though not to the extent of the peaks in 2011 or the end of 2012). The timeline ends before we get to the year 2014, so we do not know of the meme’s current online interest.

One fourth down the page, on the left. A picture showing a bottle of Smirnoff vodka. Scumbag Steve’s hat is hanging on the bottle. Text: top: One more drink will make you feel just right bro. Bottom: Wake up in the forest.

Two fourths down the page, on the left. Same meme of scumbag Steve as the one under the title.

Three fourths down the page, on the right. Same picture of scumbag Steve. Text: top: If she says “no” twice. Bottom: It’s a double negative.

Bottom of the page, on the left. A screenshot of a tweet. Text: @holyhoe. Why are girls so scared of rape? Y’all should feel pride that a guy risked his life in jail just to fuck you. #thirstyhoetweets. –Waleed (@aWgPaShTuN) November 2, 2013.

SUCCESSFUL BLACK MAN

The page has two pictures under the title. The picture shows a young black man in jacket and tie. The background is in shades of brown.

Picture on the left. Text: top: I’d tap that. Bottom: Crosswalk button to ensure the safest possible passage across the street. Subtitle: The Chameleon by Sydney Hamilton.

Picture on the right. Text: top: Yo. Bottom: Hablo Espanol. Subtitle: The Clever and Successful Black Man by Sydney Hamilton.

Page 1 (left link)

Under the title, centered. Same picture of the successful black man. Text: top: I taught my son to roll his first joint. Bottom: Venture’s profit over into a tax-deferred IRA to avoid excessive capital gain taxes.

One third down the page, on the left. Same meme as the picture on the right in the previous page.

Two thirds down the page, on the right. Same meme as the picture on the left in the previous page.

Page 2 (right link)

One third down the page, on the left. Same picture of the successful black man. Text: top: Brought home some hoes and weed. Bottom: Remover to keep my lawn in tip top shape.

Two thirds down the page, on the right. Same meme as the picture on the right in the previous page.

THAT”D BE GREAT.

Under the title, centered, there are two pictures. The pictures show actor Gary Cole standing in front of an office cubicle dressed in shirt and tie, holding a coffee mug.

Picture on the left. Text: top: Yeah if you could tell me whether it’s my username or my password that’s incorrect. Bottom: That’d be great.

Picture on the right: Text: top: If you could stop posting “entry level” positions that require 3-5 years experience. Bottom: That’d be great.

One third down the page, a series of three pictures. The first is on the left, the second on the right, the third on the left.

First picture. Same photo of Gary Cole. Text: bottom: Yeeeeah, if you could just, go ahead and read this in my voice, that’d be great.

Second picture. It shows Darth Vader from the movie Star Wars. He is dressed in a black shirt with a grey tie and red suspenders. He’s standing beside a cubicle and leaning against it; one bent arm rests on top of the cubicle wall; the other hand holds a coffee mug. Text: bottom: Yeah, if you could just, come to the dark side, that’d be great. This image is set against a black background with white text. Under the image, against a white background, we see the caption, “More funny pictures at Dudelol.com”

Third picture. Same photo of Gary Cole. Text: top: Yeah, if we could all just stop shooting each other. Bottom: That’d be great.

Bottom of the page. A screenshot of a graph showing the meme interest on the internet over time. The graph reads: “Interest over time. Web search. Worldwide, 2004-present.” The key shows that the blue line represents interest in “bill lumbergh”; red represents office space lumbergh; yellow represents thatd be great; and green represents that would be great.

The green line first peaks in 2005–apparently when the meme first appeared. Interest in this meme steadily increases (with several ups and downs) until its highest peak in 2013. This version of the meme has seen the most replications/most interest. The blue line first peaked in late 2005; this period saw some of it’s highest interest, but this meme has also been most consistent over time; in late 2013, the meme’s interest peaked slightly higher than it did in late 2005. The red line, or “office space lumbergh” is third in terms of interst. Interest first peaked in 2006. Interest then faded until late 2006, faded out again until it peaked in 2008, then faded out a third time. In 2009, interest returned and has been fairly consistent over time–peaking again in 2013–but never quite beating out interest in the green or blue versions of this meme. Finally, the yellow version, “thatd be great” appears to have first appeared or peaked in 2013 as interest was nonexistent prior to this time. Interst in this version of the meme is the lowest of all 4.

SUCCESS KID

Under the title, centered, a series of three pictures. The picture shows a young child dressed in a white baseball shirt with green sleeves. The toddler is thrusting his fist in the sign of victory. He has an accomplished and happy expression. The background is in shades of blue.

From left to right, first picture. Text: top: Looked at wrong screen in Mario kart. Bottom: Still first. Second picture. Text: top: Late to work. Bottom: Boss was even later. Third picture. Text: top: Have to wear a tie. Bottom: Perfect length on first try.

One third down the page, on the right. Same meme as second picture above.

THE MOST INTERESTING MAN IN THE WORLD

The page has two pictures centered under the title. Each picture is a link to a new page. The picture shows actor Jonathan Goldsmith in a still from a Dos Equis beer commercial. He’s dressed elegantly in a pin-stripe black suit with a white unbuttoned shirt, no tie. He’s sitting at a table with a bottle of Dos Equis beer in front of him.

Picture on the left. Text: top: I don’t always attend gangnam style flash mobs. Bottom: But when I do, I do the electric slide. Subtitle: Bakhtinian Analysis of the Most Interesting Man in the World by Jenn Pirri.

Picture on the right. Text: top: I don’t usually discuss paradoxes. Bottom: But when I do, I don’t. Subtitle: Meme Mechanics of the World’s Most Interesting Man by Victoria Kuipers.

Page 1 (left link)

One third down the page, on the left. Same meme as picture on the left in the previous page.

Toward the bottom of the page, a series of two of the same meme pictures, the first on the right, the second on the left. First picture. Text: top: I don’t always study. Bottom: But when I do, I make sure it’s the night before the exam. Second picture. Text: top: I don’t always tell mom jokes. Bottom: But when I do, she loves them.

Page 2 (right link)

One third down the page, on the left. Same meme as the image on the right in the previous page.

Two thirds down the page, on the right. A picture of a Dracula puppet. Text: top: I don’t always drink. Bottom: But when I do it’s 0-negative.

BAD LUCK BRIAN

Centered, under the title, a picture of a red-haired, smiling child. He’s wearing a tartan vest. He has braces. The picture resembles an awkward mall photo-op. Text: top: Escapes a burning building. Bottom: Gets hit by firetruck.

One third down the page, on the left. Same picture. Text: top: Plays in a rock band. Bottom: Hand chimes.

Two thirds down the page, on the right. Same picture. Text: top: Wins Xbox 360. Bottom: Red ring of death.

YOU HAD ONE JOB

Under the title, centered there are two pictures. The picture on the left shows a remote control keyboard. The button that says “left” points right, and the button that says “right” points left. Text: top: You had one job. Bottom: One job! The picture on the right shows a brick road. There are rows of grey and red bricks. In the red row, there is a misplaced grey brick, and in the grey row, there is a misplaced red brick. Text: top, on the right: You had one job.

One third down the page, on the left. Same meme as the picture on the left above. Right under, on the right, same meme as the picture on the right above.

Two thirds down the page. A picture of a backpack with a Barbie image. Under the Barbie image, it says “Spider-Man. Text: top: You had. Bottom: One job.

PHILOSORAPTOR

Under the title, centered, a series of three pictures. The picture shows the head of a T-Rex dinosaur, looking right. Its claw is scratching its chin. The T-Rex is green, on a background in shades of green. From left to right, first picture. Text: top: What do hipsters become. Bottom: If being a hipster gets too mainstream? Second Picture. Text: top: If the opposite of pro is con. Bottom: Is the opposite of progress congress? Third picture. Text: top: If Europe uses Euros. Bottom: Shouldn’t Africa use Afros?

Each third down the page, the memes are repeated. Picture 3 on the left, picture 2 on the right, picture 1 on the left.

SOCIALLY AWKWARD PENGUIN

Under the title, centered, a series of three pictures. The picture shows the drawing of a penguin walking, going left. The background is in shades of blue. From left to right. First picture. Text: top: At first I was like. Bottom: But then I was still like. Second picture. Text: top: knows he’s going to see the girl he likes. Center: Plans multiple conversations in advance. Bottom: Doesn’t say a word. Third picture. Text: top: Gets on dance cam at hockey game. Bottom: Waves.

One third down the page, on the right, same meme as picture 3 above.

Two thirds down the page, on the right, same meme as picture 2 above.