6/6 Boyd & Dominguez

            Both Ricardo Dominguez and Andrew Boyd’s readings discuss methods in which the Internet can serve as a site for cultural resistance. Acknowledging the world’s recent technological advance, Dominguez co-founded an electronic activism company, called Electronic Disturbance Theater, that tries to get their message across by organizing nonviolent “electronic disturbances.” I’ve never been familiar with this term, but Dominguez’ idea makes sense considering how much of an influence the Internet and its growing traffic will only continue to grow in our world. The cyberspace is a great and strategic tool to deliver messages that can be easily be reached by billions of people across the globe. In relation to this, Boyd’s article focuses on the this recent “meme warfare” that also serves as a culture of resistance. Boyd notes that these online memes tell a certain truth about a specific and popular topic. Because the younger generation comprise of a large majority of Internet consumption, memes are more exposed to and enjoyed by them. From what I have noticed, these online memes typically discuss political and social issues/ideas that are most relatable to the mass. For example, there are some images that make jokes of Donald Trump and even our past UC Davis Linda Katehi. Additionally, I’ve noticed there are some about the struggles of academics and reality of college life. If you really pause to think about the deeper meaning behind these memes, despite its humorous front, it is easy to recognize the truth that it conveys. After all, they would not be as popularly spread on the Internet by the mass if it didn’t convey relevant issues/ideas. 

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