As I browsed through the images in our readings this week, the image of Lt John Pike pepper spraying a line of seated student protesters particulary caught my attention. This image, captured by a bystander became an internet meme.
Browsing through the plethora of images that have been digitally manipulated to show John Pike pepper spraying well known figures brings home the power of images to communicate complex meanings. While some images are in bad taste many make powerful social commentaries simply by combining this "pepper spraying" image with political & religious figures and famous artworks & movies.
Further searches brought up examples of the way various multimedia and social media tools had been used to create paradies on this theme. From parodies of popular songs ( search YouTube for " officer pike goes Gaga" at your own peril !) to fake twitter accounts and ironic Amazon reviews.
This YouTube video provides a brief overview of the ways the public have used multimedia to communicate their disaproval of this man's actions.
Thanks Sandy, I didn't know what an internet meme was, now I do!
ReplyDelete