Paper short abstract:

Memes as a visual form of humor also represent a semantic trace of time. As such we will consider memes published in period of Corona in Slovenia. The paper presents the collection created at ZRC SAZU ISN, which will be semantically and semiotically analysed to show the picture of particular time.

Paper long abstract:

Memes as "(post)modern folklore” (Shifman 2013) that express and shap shared norms and values and as a visual form of humour also represent a semantic trace of time and have an important focus on insight into the public narrative. By presenting details of everyday life or perceptions of government decisions, they present themselves not only as a humorous genre, but also as important contemporary witnesses of a particular era. As such, we can consider memes about the discontent and new habits that were the consequence of the Covid 19 pandemic. The pandemic period was extremley productive in creating memes as respond on different situations.

The paper will focus on and present the collection of memes created at ZRC SAZU, Institute of Slovenian Ethnology. The collection consists of memes that were circulating in Slovenia, but were either with foreign or Slovenian origin. These memes will be semantically cathegorized and semiotically analysed in order to provide a generalised picture of certain temporal and spatial worldview and humour elements, which are contrasted with temporal facts during this period.