SXSW 2012 - The State of the Internet Memescape: 2008-10

The State of the Internet Memescape: 2008-10
Event	SXSW Interactive 2009
Format	Solo
Organizer	Tim Hwang – ROFLCon
Description	Whether it's Weezer's “Pork and Beans” or LOLCat ubiquity, the internet memescape is getting enormously bigger and badder. This talk will assess current trends in internet culture and discuss how changes in the software and hardware environment will alter the construction, spread and evolution of online memes into the future.
Questions Answered	What is the current state of internet culture? (what's popular? what's losing steam? what's emerging?) To what extent is our situation different or the same as the internet culture of the late 90s? How will the changing device landscape affect the production of memes? How will the changing Web 2.0 business landscape affect the production of memes? How does the emerging interface between internet culture and traditional media change the landscape? What makes the adoption (or appropriation) of internet culture by businesses fail or succeed? What is internet fame and is it different from traditional forms of celebrity? Is there a changing composition in the demographics of those who produce and consume internet culture? What research is most needed in furthering our understanding of internet phenomena? From current trends, what is likely to be the broad contours of the next two years in internet culture?
Panelists	Tim Hwang (ROFLCon)
Level	Intermediate
Category	Community / Social Networks

The State of the Internet Memescape: 2008-10