Re: <nettime> Can the Left Meme?

[Geert Lovink <geert@xs4all.nl>]

Dear nettimers,

interesting thread so far. The question at stake here is the relation between image and politics. We all know that politics is done through the level of images, but what to make of that?

I recently published two texts on this issue.

The first is part of longer investigation into the European origins of memes and meme design. If you want to talk to me about that, exchange material and ideas, please email me! Here is a fresh email interview with Oliver Vodeb (Memefest) on early ideas about memes and their addictive power today. I highly recommend it as Memefest has been part of the nettime/tactical media scene from day one:

http://networkcultures.org/geert/2017/06/22/interview-with-oliver-vodeb-memefest-on-the-addictive-power-of-memes-today/

Meme design also plays a role in this larger essay for e-flux journal on the general state of (internet)affairs, written during the European winter of 2017, a few months into the Trump administration, in response to the rise of alt.right and the role memes played in 2016. In the second part of the piece I make a round and ask several of you about possible strategies:

http://www.e-flux.com/journal/83/141287/overcoming-internet-disillusionment-on-the-principles-of-meme-design/

As the power of images is on the rise, and might not decline in the near future, the nettime debate is (as always) very important!

Best, Geert

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