Class on memes explains to seniors creative ways people get 'snarky'
Adrienne Lee, an art historian, discusses "Art History in Pop Culture: How the Internet Changes How We See Art." Credit: TNS/Red Huber
Nancy Shutts, 78, first encountered internet memes a couple of years ago when her grandson shared a term paper he wrote for a college class. She couldn’t understand what the big deal was about the silly social media images with text — usually related to current events.
“I am so left-brained, this does not mean squat to me,” said Shutts, who has a degree in medical technology. “But I’m constantly looking at new things to expand my knowledge.”
Shutts and five other seniors came together in a college classroom to learn about memes and other trending images on the internet from art historian Adrienne Lee.
A meme is a still shot — typically from a movie, television show or ad campaign — “that takes on a new life but is rooted in a context that we all share,” Lee explained to the class, offered for people 50 or older through Rollins’ Center for Lifelong Learning in Winter Park, Florida.
For example, an image of the late actor Gene Wilder as the title character in the 1971 movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” — with his top hat tipped upward, head resting on his hand and a smirk on his face — has spawned countless “condescending Wonka” memes.
Popular topics include mocking social media use, fad diets and overused phrases.
“You know to read those words in a snarky, sarcastic tone because of how he played that character,” said Lee, 39. “Memes are like organisms — they have a mind of their own, and they evolve and mutate.”
The lecture series also explores other art history topics in relation to modern concepts such as: Are smartphone selfies an electronic version of a self-portrait? Does posting pictures of your brunch on Instagram equate to a still-life painting?
“It’s that idea that while the media has changed or evolved, the intent really hasn’t — that’s rooted in human nature,” said Lee, adding that she imagines Monet’s Instagram feed would be bursting with depictions of water lilies and haystacks.
Most of Lee’s students said they reluctantly use Facebook to keep track of family and friends but don’t embrace other apps such as Twitter or Instagram.
There’s a level of narcissism, they said, with constantly sharing carefully crafted details of one’s life on social media.
Apopka, Florida, resident Yvonne King, who declined to give her age, balked at the idea of redefining art and comparing artists who painstakingly created masterpieces with people who use filters on their photos.
“People that are participating in it to a great degree . . . they’re really not doing it for the art,” King said. “This is not an attack on anyone, but there’s quite an element of being very self-centered.”
Lee countered with the notion that all artists are prideful because they’re putting themselves out there through their work.
“All that art comes as a result of artists who are experiencing their world at a particular time . . . that’s the real reason we can’t brush off these pop-culture references, these social media trends, memes — it’s our visual representation of what’s happening now.”
“Art is for everyone, and through pop culture, I think we find ways to make it more accessible,” she said.
Get tech-savvy on Long Island
Libraries and tech groups across Long Island offer a range of sessions and classes suitable for the 50-plus crowd – whether enthusiastic or grudgingly accepting of social media and online apps. As always, call before going even if reservations aren’t required. Don’t see a listing convenient to your community? Visit newsday.com/events.
BOOK-A-LIBRARIAN Hampton Bays Public Library, 52 Ponquogue Ave., Hampton Bays, 631-728-6241, hamptonbayslibrary.org. Library cardholders may book a 45-minute appointment for one-on-one assistance with their new devices or topics about technology, apps and more; register, free, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon on Mondays; 2 p.m., 3 p.m. Thursdays.
BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE East Rockaway Library, 477 Atlantic Ave., East Rockaway, 516-599-1664, eastrockawaylibrary.org. Get help on how to use your tablet, e-reader or smartphone, no appointment necessary. Free, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, and Aug. 28.
INTERNET USERS GROUP East Islip Library, 381 E. Main St., 631-581-9200, eipl.org. Computer expert John Catrona hosts an informal group to discuss new and interesting information on and about the Internet; register; free, 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, and Aug. 28.
ASK THE TECH GUY WITH PHIL Long Beach Library, 111 W. Park Ave., Long Beach, 516-432-7201, longbeachlibrary.org. Bring your mobile devices, your chargers, relevant usernames and passwords and questions; free, 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays.
ADULT TECH TRAINING: INTRO TO EMAIL Oceanside Library, 30 Davison Ave., Oceanside, 516-766-2360, oceansidelibrary.com. Learn how to obtain an email address, send and receive emails, compose a message and add and view attachments, register, Free, 7 p.m. Aug. 13.
COOL APPS FOR THE IPAD AND IPHONE Massapequa Library, Bar Harbour Branch, 40 Harbor Lane, Massapequa Park, 516-799-0770, massapequalibrary.org. Discover apps you can’t live without; bring your device if you have one; introduction and comfort with use of iPad or iPhone is a prerequisite; register, free, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14.
SENIORNET SEMINAR: DROPBOX Elwood Library, 1929 Jericho Tpke., East Northport, 631-470-6757, SeniorNetLI.org. Learn how to use Dropbox to share and exchange photos (and other large files) with friends both across town and around the world. Free, 2-3:30 p.m. Aug. 14.
SENIOR ICE CREAM SOCIAL Hauppauge Library, 1373 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Hauppauge, 631-979-1600, hauppaugelibrary.org. Ice cream social for seniors with teen techies on hand to introduce them to the library’s computer tablets; bring your own tablet or smartphone if you would like some help with them; register, free, 3 p.m. Aug. 15.
INTRO TO SOCIAL MEDIA: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, SNAPCHAT Huntington Library, 338 Main St., Huntington, 631-427-5165, myhpl.org. Arooj Chaudhry will teach how to use social media websites; bring your laptop and phone to class, or just watch, listen and take notes; limit of 20, register. Free, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15.
TECH TUTORS Cold Spring Harbor Library, 95 Harbor Rd., Cold Spring Harbor, 631-692-6820, cshlibrary.org. Baffled by your smartphone or computer? We’ll have some tech-savvy teens here to help you become more comfortable using your technology. Register, free, 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 15.
TECH SAVVY AT ANY AGE, Hampton Library, 2478 Main St., Bridgehampton, 631-537-0015, hamptonlibrary.org. Mac novices and enthusiasts alike are encouraged to learn and share all about Apple computers, register. Free, 6 p.m. Aug. 30.
Compiled by Gina Tabarus
