Russian Internet Memes: The Short Course
Russian Internet Memes: The Short Course
From April through July of 2020, I delivered a weekly series of what turned out to be 17 lectures on Russian Internet memes. I did it for two reasons: first, because I thought it would be good for NYU’s Jordan Center to maintain a sense of scholarly community while the whole world was sheltering in place, and second, because it would force me to get a lot of work done.
I like to think that the series succeeded on both counts. Certainly, it was invaluable when it came to my writing process: I wrote the first draft of Meanwhile, in Russia: Russian Internet Memes and Viral Videos from May through December, and I don’t know if it would have been possible without the lecture series. The feedback I got over the course of those four months was essential.
But even more valuable was the chance to see the faces of friends and colleagues from all around the world, and to have an intellectual conversation about something other than a global plague (well, except for the lecture on coronavirus memes).
Some of these lectures overlap significantly with some of the chapters of my forthcoming book, while others discuss material that never made it into the manuscript. Though I personally can’t watch videos of myself for more than a minute without cringing, I’m happy with how this all turned out.
Introduction: Getting Memes Wrong
So what are memes, anyway? And why should we pay attention to them?
(April 3, 2020)
“Putin Is A Dickhead”
It began as a Ukrainian soccer chant, and ended as the name of a newly discovered star. It might not be the worst thing anyone has ever said about Putin, but it may be the most memorable.
(April 10, 2020)
“Obama Is a Schmoe”
How hatred of Barack Obama went viral
(April 17, 2020)
Russian Road Rage
How dashboard cameras turned the Russian streets into insanely popular viral video
(April 24, 2020)
Going Viral: The Memes of COVID-19
How the pandemic sparked an outpouring of creativity on the Russian Internet
(May 1, 2020)
Squatting Slavs: Watching the Gopniki
Why do people all over the world share images of squatting Slavs in tracksuits?
(May 8, 2020)
Attack of the Putin-Loving Spongebob Clones: Vatnik On and Off the Russian Internet
The politics of a cartoon image of a drunken gray jacket spouting nationalist slogans
(May 15, 2020)
Zhdun: The Dutch Blob that Ate the Russian Internet
One of the nicest memes to emerge from the Runet
(May 22, 2020)
Little Big: The Band That Wants to Eat Your Brain
Little Big: It’s not just about “Skibidi”
(May 29, 2020)
Hating Greta
Why was there so much venom about Greta Thunberg on the Russian Internet?
(June 5, 2020)
Black Lives Matter and the Problem of Russian Racist Memes
Let’s just say that Black Lives Matter did not go over well with certain segments of the Russian Internet,
(June 12, 2020)
Take That, Elon Musk!
Elon Musk isn’t just annoying—he’s a Russian meme!
(June 19, 2020)
Freaks of the Russian Internet
A rogue’s gallery of Russian meme stars
(June 26, 2020)
Conspiracy Memes, Guest Starring George Soros and Bill Gates
Russians are making memes! Is it just for fun, or is it…something more?
(The answer: just for fun, mostly)
(July 10, 2020)
Peter the Great Memes (Guest Starring Shrek)
What does Shrek have to do with Peter the Great?
(July 17, 2020)
What Does the Stoned Fox Say?
How a creepy stuffed fox got sold on eBay, only to become a Runet superstar
(July 24, 2020)
Comrade Lenin and the Gang: Memes about Soviet Leaders
Let’s just say these memes would not have gone over well under Stalin
(July 31, 2020)