Paper short abstract:

Defining memes as "(post)modern folklore” that expresses and shapes shared norms and values within communities, the paper will analyze the depiction of distance learning in Estonian memes, highlighting different points of view: the position of the students, the teachers, and the parents.

Paper long abstract:

Restrictions and special measures were imposed around the world to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, one of the most important of which was certainly the reorganization of learning and work as home-based activity. The new way of life that accompanied the special situation was also reflected in widespread folklore, including internet memes. Defining memes as "(post)modern folklore” (Shifman 2013) that expresses and shapes shared norms and values within communities, my paper will analyze the depiction of distance learning in Estonian memes, highlighting different points of view: the position of the students, the teachers, and the parents.

The source data comes from the meme collection of the research archive of the Department of Folkloristics of the Estonian Literary Museum, which consists of more than 2,000 meme units collected during the crisis period. Some data was collected separately, for example, Tartu Variku School organized a meme competition “My Distance Learning” for students of Tartu schools in April 2020 (540 memes).

The study addresses the following questions: What local features emerge in distance learning memes that spread during the pandemic? How have students used other cultural resources in these memes (e.g. pop culture elements known from literature, cinema, music and other important cultural texts)? Whether and how these memes express, for example, family relationships (between children / youngsters and parents), school relationships (between students and teachers), what patterns of distance working are prevalent, etc.