Welcome to the MEM 301: Introduction to Memeology course website!
Course description: Survey course of the study of memes: how memes are created, how memes spread, what makes memes viral and relatable, case studies of historically significant memes, and introduction to internet phenomena.
Prerequisite(s): Restricted to memeology majors only. Recommended next class on the memeology track: MEM 321: History of Memes to 2012 and MEM 322: History of Memes since 2012.
Content notice: This course contains content that may be considered offensive, disturbing, or otherwise unpleasant due to the nature of memes. By registering for this course and remaining in it, you agree that you are prepared to face whatever content this course presents.
Placement test information: The Department of Memeology strongly encourages you to take our meme placement test to place out of MEM 301 if the course is too trivial for you. For more information, visit https://meme.utexas.edu/placement-test.
Required materials:
* Due to TikTok being banned/restricted in certain countries, it is not strictly required. Students on the Chinese App Store may elect to download Douyin (抖音) instead.
About this online course's lectures and discussions: The Department of Memeology follows a uniform policy for all online courses. All lectures are pre-recorded and uploaded onto Canvas by the very first class day. It is your responsibility to watch them as needed. Discussion boards are made available on the very first day of class and close on the last day of pre-finals week at 11:59pm. You will be required to post on the class discussion boards/forums every week. Discussions are graded on a basis of participation, but complete lack of effort or lack of participation will result in a grade of 0 for that discussion.
A note about civility (Department of Memeology Civility & Decency Policy). The University and the Department of Memeology respect your right to freedom of speech as given to you by the law and by relevant university policies. However, we ask that memeing and discussions be kept civil and respectful of one another. Although certain topics discussed in memeology can be sensitive and divisive, we ask that you exhibit an honorable, respectable decorum when engaging with your peers in discussion. Harassment, bullying, attacks, or any unsavory conduct is prohibited. Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action, which includes but is not limited to: reduction of grade or failure of the class, dismissal from the memeology program (if a memeology major), referral to the Dean of Students; the type of action taken depends upon the severity of the incident and will be decided by either the Department of Memeology or the Dean of Students. On the other hand, if you find the content in this class to be disturbing or discomforting, it is your responsibility to drop the class. If you see peers engaging in behavior prohibited by this policy, report it to your instructor immediately.
About this course's projects: Projects will be assigned on the very first day of class on Canvas and are due on Canvas on the last day of class on pre-finals week at 11:59pm. As not every project is required to be completed, it is up to you to decide which projects you wish to complete, if any. You may conference with your instructor about the progress of your project, either via email or during their office hours. Your instructor will provide earnest feedback about your project so you can succeed. There is no reason you should receive less than a perfect score if you listen to the advice of your instructor. (This is a departmental policy and may be appealed to the department chair, Leroy Jenkins, if you believe your instructor has violated this policy.)
Grading policy: Please note this class does not have a final exam. Grades are calculated based on the following factors:
The total pts you will be able to earn in this class is 1200 pts.
This class does NOT use the plus minus system for assigning letter grades. As such, below are the cutoffs needed to earn a certain grade:
A note about plagiarism in this class: English teachers use Turnitin, but we here at the Department of Memeology use Google, and it's very easy to find plagiarized memes using Google. So just don't plagiarize.
Memes That You Like Questionnaire: This is meant to be an easy questionnaire you can complete before watching any lectures. You will fill it out on its dedicated Canvas module. It is due by the second week of class.
Create A Meme Project: You must create a meme. It cannot be an image macro. The objective is to get your instructor to laugh OR to gain over 1,000 upvotes on a subreddit of your choice OR 250+ reactions on the UT Longmemes Facebook group. Obscure inside jokes will not be counted.
This meme can be a deviation, but then you may only earn 250 points maximum. Only truly original, hilarious memes may earn the full 300 points. If you are trying to earn an A in this class, do not strive to earn 300 points unless you desperately need the bonus points and have nothing else to lose. More information will be posted on Canvas.
Meme Compare and Contrast Project: Using the rubric provided on Canvas, compare and contrast two memes using whatever creative format you want, or an essay. If you choose to write an essay, you will not be graded on mechanics, but it must be understandable.
Ancillary information:
Videos: Below are links to some videos that are related to our course.
There are many more meme videos, but this is a good selection of different kinds of meme videos that have been posted to YouTube over the years.
Additional resources of interest:
Semester: Fall 2020
Meeting times and location: N/A - Web-based class
Final exam time and location: No final exam
Instructor: Jeffrey Wang, PhMeme, Adjunct Lecturer
Instructor's preferred pronouns: he, him, his
Instructor email address: firstname lastname at utexas dot edu
Office location: WAG -103 (note the negative sign)
Office hours: (held over Zoom)
Syllabus: You're looking at it
Most of this class takes place on Canvas. Please log in to UT Austin's Canvas for more information on this course.
Special notice: Due to COVID-19, the Fall 2020 semester has been abbreviated and classes now end before Thanksgiving.
Schedule:
| Week(s) of | Unit | Lecture | Assigned | Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W 8/26 | Unit 0: Welcome to the class | Syllabus overview | All assignments for the semester | Memes That You Like Questionnaire by T 8/28 |
| M 8/31 | Unit 1: What is a meme? What is memeology? | Unit 1 videos | Discussion for Unit 1 due by F 9/4 | |
| T 9/8 | Unit 2: How are memes created? How can we create good memes? | Unit 2 videos | Discussion for Unit 2 due by F 9/12 | |
| M 9/14 M 9/21 |
Unit 3: How are memes spread and remixed? Is there an economy of memes? | Unit 3 videos | Discussion for Unit 3 due by F 9/25 | |
| M 9/28 M 10/5 |
Unit 4: What makes a meme go viral? How do we make it go even more viral? | Unit 4 videos | Discussion for Unit 4 due by F 10/9 | |
| M 10/12 | Unit 5.1: Meme Case Study 1 - Numa Numa | Unit 5.1 videos | Discussion for Unit 5.1 by F 10/16 | |
| M 10/19 | Unit 5.2: Meme Case Study 2 - Nyan Cat | Unit 5.2 videos | Discussion for Unit 5.2 due by F 10/23 | |
| M 10/26 | NO CLASS - HAPPY HALLOWEEN | |||
| M 11/2 | Unit 5.3: Meme Case Study 3 - Gangnam Style | Unit 5.3 videos | Discussion for Unit 5.3 by F 11/6 | |
| M 11/9 | Unit 5.4: Meme Case Study 4 - Distracted Boyfriend | Unit 5.4 videos | Discussion for Unit 5.4 due by F 11/13 | |
| M 11/16 | Unit 6: Why do internet phenomena occur? What theories are behind memeology? | Unit 6 videos | Discussion for Unit 6 due by F 11/20 | |
| M 11/23 | NO CLASS - HAPPY THANKSGIVING | |||
| M 11/30 | Time set aside for project conferences with your instructor - book a time in advance on Canvas! | |||
| M 12/11 at 11:59pm |
Create A Meme Project Meme Compare and Contrast Project |
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© 2020 The University of Texas at Austin Department of Memeology. "What starts here changes the world."
Disclaimer: The above website is a parody. But wouldn't it be nice if it were real? :)