This class is very unconditional, unexpected, and mind blowing. When I first stepped into this class and we began to talk about media and games I was confused at how this class would go. I wasn’t even sure how this class was  considered an English requirement. As we dove into the meat of the topics I began to really enjoy the conversations because they were conversations we’ve never had. Who talks about the negative things about Google, especially since everyone idolizes them so much.

The group work was effortless because there was so much time given to us to get the work done. Also having all semester to complete the project was a plus so it could be strategically planned. I’m usually not a fan of group work but this is great transition from traditional group work and a group based class.

I can admit that a lot of the assigned readings were pretty dense and hard to follow. I appreciated really going over all the topics and fully indulging into them. Each of the conversations and concepts we went over had left their own imprint on me and I can say I’m leaving this class more educated than when I stepped in. I am well informed on what Amazon and Google are actually doing when we took them off their high horse. Picking them apart and really analyzing their processes won’t stop me from using Amazon or Google but I now understand what they’re about.

This class expanded my horizons and I have looked into several web series and entered a new world. Different perspectives were forced onto but I have learned to accept such as Memes. When we hear memes we think of a picture with some form of entertainment. Our brains were picked apart and senses were heightened. This class was a breath of fresh air and I am happy I chose to take this course. Russworm is a different but great teacher and hopefully I can find room in my life next semester to take another class. Thank You for a great class!

The most interesting thing that we discussed in class for the past two weeks is whether or not mash ups are memes. When we watched Susan Blackmore’s TED talk she explained that everything is a meme from a scarf to the apple logos. It became more apparent that memes could be anything that is or can be replicated. They way memes are famously known are pictures with text that are supposed to be comedic. Now we have to ask are memes going to last, or are they going to die out after its fifteen minutes of fame. I think the way, as we know it will no longer be here five years from now but will transform into something else.

A couple years ago in social media there was a trend of the hash tag and now it has transformed into the meme. Even though the hash tag has not been extinguished it is not as popular as it was in its prime. We can assume that memes are in its prime and something else would take over the social media realm. It was hard to assume in class whether or not mash-ups were memes, were things that can be replicated. With the idea of mash ups in music one can assume that mash ups are memes. They are replications put together that incorporate the same idea in stream so the concept is conveyed. Even taking someone’s idea and making it into your own is paraphrasing so that concept is carried into the idea of mash-ups. It was someone’s idea to take memes that were similar or just funny and put together for comedic purposes. As we look in the world around us there are several memes and mash-ups are a collections that we don’t appreciate everyday.

Memes are usually simplistic and straight to the point and the use of them is to react to something that has recently occurred. As an example for the Superbowl Katy Perry had performed for the half-time show and memes were being made the minute it was over. Her clothes, the people she brought out with her such as Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliot were all involved in the meme fest. It could be seen as a new was of expression but also social news. For those in this generation memes can add to the conversation, can be daily news and an easier way to communicate.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzp3KqShmAk[/youtube]

In this mash-up it is a collection of songs that are placed over another that have the same idea to portray. The idea of old R&B from the 90s is the focal point and placing different songs together is trying to convey the nostalgia of smooth and meaningful music.

So all in all, memes are all around us and come in several forms. Mash-ups are a form of memes since it is a replicated idea that is being added with other ideas. So the idea of the human race replicating so much that we will lose the sense of what is real life is a great question. We need to know our history in order to know where we are going but if everything is being replicated how will we know that is real life and hyperreal?

-Janice Abel