At least once in a lifetime probably every one of us has woken up with some kind of disordered hair that we could not get control of. Bad hair days are normal; bad hair days are part of our life; so bad hair days should be considered as one of the most natural things in the world. Besides, millions of people, mainly males in and around their 60’s, have a comb over. That is just natural. So why has the spreading of such ordinary (bad) hair of the potential candidate for the 45Th US-presidency, Donald Trump, via the internet becomes so famous? Why has Trump’s hair inspired so many internet memes and aroused global interest? Does his hair also help to spark political interest in young internet users and potential voters who generally do not know much about politics? And what insights do these spreading online memes give people into contemporary socio-cultural and media issues?
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. A Theoretical Approach to Trump Hair Memes
- 2.1 The Function and Success of Trump's Hair Internet Memes
- 2.2 Hair Meme Message "We Shall Overcomb"
- 2.3 Trump Hair Memes as Part of Contemporary Media Culture
- 3. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze Donald Trump hair memes, defining memes generally, exploring their characteristics, and applying theoretical perspectives to these internet phenomena. Specific memes will be analyzed using academic concepts, and the paper will reflect on their representation within current media and semiotic culture. The analysis will conclude with observations about the internet phenomenon of Trump's hair.
- The definition and characteristics of internet memes.
- The application of theoretical perspectives (evolutionary and human agency) to understand the creation and spread of Trump hair memes.
- The communicative functions of Trump hair memes (entertainment, political provocation, and engagement).
- The role of repetition and variation in the success of these memes.
- The representation of Trump hair memes within contemporary media and semiotic culture.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Donald Trump hair memes. It begins by establishing the seemingly mundane nature of bad hair days, contrasting this with the extraordinary online phenomenon of Trump's hairstyle becoming a subject of widespread internet memes. The chapter poses key questions about the reasons for the memes' popularity, their potential influence on political engagement, and their broader socio-cultural implications. The overall aim is outlined, emphasizing a theoretical approach to understanding the phenomenon, encompassing the definition of memes and the application of relevant theoretical frameworks.
2. A Theoretical Approach to Trump Hair Memes: This chapter delves into the theoretical underpinnings of internet memes. It introduces two contrasting perspectives: Dawkins' evolutionary theory, which views memes as units of cultural information subject to selection and adaptation, and the concept of "Human Agency," which highlights the active role of individuals in creating and disseminating memes. The chapter critically assesses the applicability of both theories to the specific case of Trump hair memes. It argues that while the evolutionary theory struggles to explain the memes' limited lifespan and lack of direct competition, the concept of Human Agency, while partially applicable, is limited by the uncontrollable spread facilitated by modern digital technology and anonymity. The chapter thus establishes a nuanced understanding of the forces driving the propagation of these memes.
Keywords
Internet memes, Donald Trump, memetics, evolutionary theory, human agency, political communication, social media, digital culture, semiotics, visual communication, political satire.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Theoretical Approach to Trump Hair Memes
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
The paper analyzes Donald Trump hair memes, exploring their characteristics, communicative functions, and their place within contemporary media and semiotic culture. It uses theoretical perspectives to understand their creation and spread.
What are the key objectives of the research?
The research aims to define internet memes, apply theoretical perspectives (like evolutionary theory and human agency) to understand Trump hair memes, analyze their communicative functions (entertainment, political provocation, engagement), examine the role of repetition and variation in their success, and explore their representation within contemporary media and semiotic culture.
What theoretical frameworks are used in the analysis?
The paper uses Dawkins' evolutionary theory of memes and the concept of "Human Agency" to understand the creation and spread of these memes. It critically assesses the applicability of both theories to the specific case of Trump hair memes.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the definition and characteristics of internet memes, the application of theoretical perspectives to understand their creation and spread, their communicative functions, the role of repetition and variation in their success, and their representation within contemporary media and semiotic culture.
What are the main points discussed in Chapter 1 (Introduction)?
Chapter 1 sets the stage by highlighting the contrast between the mundane nature of bad hair days and the extraordinary online phenomenon of Trump's hairstyle becoming a subject of widespread internet memes. It poses key questions about the reasons for the memes' popularity and their broader implications, outlining the overall aim of the paper.
What are the main points discussed in Chapter 2 (A Theoretical Approach to Trump Hair Memes)?
Chapter 2 delves into the theoretical underpinnings of internet memes, introducing Dawkins' evolutionary theory and the concept of "Human Agency." It assesses the applicability of these theories to Trump hair memes, arguing that while evolutionary theory has limitations, the concept of Human Agency is also limited by the uncontrollable spread facilitated by digital technology and anonymity.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the document?
The document provides summaries for the introduction and the chapter exploring theoretical approaches to Trump hair memes. These summaries briefly outline the main points covered in each chapter.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include Internet memes, Donald Trump, memetics, evolutionary theory, human agency, political communication, social media, digital culture, semiotics, visual communication, and political satire.
What is the overall conclusion of the paper (as previewed)?
The preview doesn't offer a full conclusion, but it indicates the paper will conclude with observations about the internet phenomenon of Trump's hair, likely summarizing the findings from the theoretical analysis and the exploration of the memes' role in contemporary culture.
For what purpose was this document created?
This document is a preview intended for academic use, providing a comprehensive overview of the research, including the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It is meant to support structured and professional analysis of the themes in the full academic paper.
- Quote paper
- Verena Born (Author), 2016, We Shall Overcomb. An Analysis of Donald Trump Hair Memes, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/322058
