Remixsphere: Toward a New Framework for Meme Studies

Abstract

This article introduces the concept of the Remixsphere as a theoretical framework for studying memes, which have become an inseparable part of everyday life and cultural practices. Within this framework, remixing is understood as a meme production practice characterized by (1) a theoretically infinite capacity for generating content and (2) the potential to create new meanings in each iteration. These features are examined through an illustrative case study of the “We are Clean” meme, demonstrating how, through continuous remixing and circulation, the meme transcends the analog-digital divide and constructs its own evolutionary domain. This hypothetical hybrid space, encompassing the full remixing potential of a meme, is conceptualized as the Remixsphere. The study suggests that the Remixsphere concept enables the exploration of related content of a meme within an integrated analytical framework, and it is expected that future research will further develop this concept to advance scholarship in culture and communication in an era where all content is inherently remixable.

Keywords

• Remix
• Meme
• Remixsphere
• Digital Culture
• Digital Communication

Remiksküre: Mem Çalışmalarında Yeni Bir Kavramsal Çerçeveye Doğru

Abstract

Bu makalede, gündelik hayat pratiklerinin ayrılmaz bir parçası haline gelmiş olan memleri araştırırken faydalanılabilecek bir yaklaşım olarak Remiksküre (Remixsphere) kavramı literatüre önerilmektedir. Remiks bu çalışma kapsamında, mem üretim pratiği olarak ele alınmakta, söz konusu pratiğin (1) teorik olarak sonsuz içerik üretebilme kapasitesine ve (2) her yeni uygulamada yeni anlamlar ortaya çıkarabilme potansiyeline odaklanılmaktadır. Remiks uygulamalarının bu özellikleri açıklayıcı vaka analizi yoluyla, “We are Clean” memi üzerinden incelenmekte ve bu memin, remikslenip dolaşımda kaldığı sürece, analog/dijital ayrımını aşarak kendi evrimsel alanını inşa ettiği öne sürülerek, hibrid uzamda yer alan ve bir memin tüm remikslenme potansiyelini kapsayan bu varsayımsal alanın Remiksküre olarak adlandırılması önerilmektedir. Bir memin ilişkili olduğu içerikleri bir arada araştırma olanağı sağlayacak Remiksküre kavramının gelecekteki araştırmalarla daha geliştirilmesi ve her içeriğin remikslenebilir olduğu bir çağda kültür ve iletişim alanındaki akademik çalışmalara katkıda bulunması beklenmektedir.

Keywords

• Remiks
• Mem
• Remiksküre
• Dijital Kültür
• Dijital İletişim

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