Perspective on Persian Internet Memes: Exploring Multimodal Meaning Construction and Viewpoint Dynamics

This paper investigates the construction of meaning in Persian Internet memes, particularly focusing on image macros—prevalent multimodal memes characterized by a fixed image paired with textual commentary. By analyzing four popular image macros that convey humorous socio-cultural messages, this stu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Shirin Pourebrahim
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: University of Isfahan 2024-09-01
Series:نشریه پژوهش‌های زبان‌شناسی
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jrl.ui.ac.ir/article_28994_eef32190501a66be720e832b64abcfbd.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832595720446672896
author Shirin Pourebrahim
author_facet Shirin Pourebrahim
author_sort Shirin Pourebrahim
collection DOAJ
description This paper investigates the construction of meaning in Persian Internet memes, particularly focusing on image macros—prevalent multimodal memes characterized by a fixed image paired with textual commentary. By analyzing four popular image macros that convey humorous socio-cultural messages, this study demonstrates how these bimodal (verbo-pictorial) constructions work together to generate cohesive humorous meanings and convey distinct viewpoints. The theoretical framework is grounded in Construction Grammar and Conceptual Integration Theory, two cognitive linguistics approaches that enrich the analysis. Central to this study is the concept of Discourse Viewpoint Space, which emerges in each meme and highlights the significance of perspective in meaning creation. Through qualitative examination, the research reveals that new textual elements are often woven into iterative visual materials, forming the core content of the memes. The textual components typically fulfill constructional roles, such as adverbial clauses of reason and condition, thereby shaping the inventive aspects of meaning, often presented through fictive direct speech. The humorous interpretations arise from the systematic interplay between the images and text, as well as the integration of various conceptual spaces. The phrases and images invoke frame spaces derived from shared cultural references, such as sitcoms or interviews, reflecting community familiarity. This intersubjectivity plays a crucial role in shaping meaning. Consequently, Persian image macros serve as a medium through which meme creators articulate and reconstruct their viewpoints—including ideas, emotions, and stereotypes—by harnessing diverse discursive, textual, frame metonymy spaces, and contextual information.
format Article
id doaj-art-ea7b2033a04a432989a5f4eda009c819
institution Kabale University
issn 2322-3413
language fas
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher University of Isfahan
record_format Article
series نشریه پژوهش‌های زبان‌شناسی
spelling doaj-art-ea7b2033a04a432989a5f4eda009c8192025-01-18T06:51:27ZfasUniversity of Isfahanنشریه پژوهش‌های زبان‌شناسی2322-34132024-09-0116210712010.22108/jrl.2024.141862.185928994Perspective on Persian Internet Memes: Exploring Multimodal Meaning Construction and Viewpoint DynamicsShirin Pourebrahim0Associate Professor of Linguistics Department, Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages, Payame- Noor University, Tehran, IranThis paper investigates the construction of meaning in Persian Internet memes, particularly focusing on image macros—prevalent multimodal memes characterized by a fixed image paired with textual commentary. By analyzing four popular image macros that convey humorous socio-cultural messages, this study demonstrates how these bimodal (verbo-pictorial) constructions work together to generate cohesive humorous meanings and convey distinct viewpoints. The theoretical framework is grounded in Construction Grammar and Conceptual Integration Theory, two cognitive linguistics approaches that enrich the analysis. Central to this study is the concept of Discourse Viewpoint Space, which emerges in each meme and highlights the significance of perspective in meaning creation. Through qualitative examination, the research reveals that new textual elements are often woven into iterative visual materials, forming the core content of the memes. The textual components typically fulfill constructional roles, such as adverbial clauses of reason and condition, thereby shaping the inventive aspects of meaning, often presented through fictive direct speech. The humorous interpretations arise from the systematic interplay between the images and text, as well as the integration of various conceptual spaces. The phrases and images invoke frame spaces derived from shared cultural references, such as sitcoms or interviews, reflecting community familiarity. This intersubjectivity plays a crucial role in shaping meaning. Consequently, Persian image macros serve as a medium through which meme creators articulate and reconstruct their viewpoints—including ideas, emotions, and stereotypes—by harnessing diverse discursive, textual, frame metonymy spaces, and contextual information.https://jrl.ui.ac.ir/article_28994_eef32190501a66be720e832b64abcfbd.pdfpersian internet memesmultimodalitydiscourse viewpoint spaceframe metonymyhumor
spellingShingle Shirin Pourebrahim
Perspective on Persian Internet Memes: Exploring Multimodal Meaning Construction and Viewpoint Dynamics
نشریه پژوهش‌های زبان‌شناسی
persian internet memes
multimodality
discourse viewpoint space
frame metonymy
humor
title Perspective on Persian Internet Memes: Exploring Multimodal Meaning Construction and Viewpoint Dynamics
title_full Perspective on Persian Internet Memes: Exploring Multimodal Meaning Construction and Viewpoint Dynamics
title_fullStr Perspective on Persian Internet Memes: Exploring Multimodal Meaning Construction and Viewpoint Dynamics
title_full_unstemmed Perspective on Persian Internet Memes: Exploring Multimodal Meaning Construction and Viewpoint Dynamics
title_short Perspective on Persian Internet Memes: Exploring Multimodal Meaning Construction and Viewpoint Dynamics
title_sort perspective on persian internet memes exploring multimodal meaning construction and viewpoint dynamics
topic persian internet memes
multimodality
discourse viewpoint space
frame metonymy
humor
url https://jrl.ui.ac.ir/article_28994_eef32190501a66be720e832b64abcfbd.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT shirinpourebrahim perspectiveonpersianinternetmemesexploringmultimodalmeaningconstructionandviewpointdynamics