Blog Post #4 – Joy M

Martin Luther performed a revolutionary media ecology in which he used print to spread information. When he posted his 95 Theses, he did not foresee the power of sharing. I will reflect on how the 95 Theses and the “OW LAWD HE COMIN” cat meme bore a media ecology in which the third set of media articulation is demonstrated in those two instances. The printing of the 95 Theses brought about its distribution within communities. Its translation to German also contributed to its widespread as not only Latin-speaking academics and clergymen could understand it but also a wider public. Luther soon understood the power of print as he wrote his later publication, “Sermon on Indulgences and Grace,” in simple, direct German to address a larger audience about corruption in the church. The ongoing print arguments between him and the other church members saw it acceptable for the public to also engage in debate.

The “OW LAWD HE COMIN” meme and other cat memes articulate a media assemblage of social media. The cat memes’ distribution through Twitter and websites makes them go viral through sharing and reproduction. It demonstrates how digital platforms facilitate the quick and extensive distribution of content. Their distribution carries a symbolic meaning. The cat memes establish this intimate network of imagined communities where users can relate to one another. At the same time, different societies understand and react to cat memes in different ways. It illustrates the temporal dynamics of media consumption, in which the relevance and meaning of media vary over time in response to societal shifts and trends.