For the first meme remix, I decided to retain the original dark humor aspect while pivoting to a more uniquely identifiable event in recent history. This remixed meme now reflects the hardship of graduation during the COVID-19 pandemic, a feeling that students and parents worldwide can empathize with. We substitute the image of people throwing up bulletproof vests in place of caps for one of students in gowns holding surgical masks above their heads in triumph. The caption expresses the situation behind the picture, the most notable part of which is the reference to the year 2020, a year hallmarked by many misfortunes, one of the most notable being the COVID-19 pandemic. In this remixed meme, we once agin see the prevalence of recent culture acting as a subject, with the crafted meme acting as a medium for which to express thoughts and emotions that are both relevant and recognizable.
The second meme remix keeps the original image, with the remixed part coming from the altered caption. The reason for this is simple, the image itself is inherently lighthearted, a children’s cartoon character with a caricature-like smile pointing. The tone and stance of the meme comes from the caption; the content of the caption influences the tone of the corresponding image. By altering the caption from its original darker content to a reflect something equally mocking, less cynical, and more universally empathetic, the meme’s tone becomes more jovial. This highlights the importance of a meme’s caption, in essence, it is the component that determines how a viewer will interact with the accompanying visual.
