I'm interested in how story-memes adapt over time. I define a story-meme as a special type of meme, a cultural text which replicates and adapts in response to changes in the media and cultural environments. For example, how did the King Kong films adapt/change from 1933 to 1976 to 2005? Why? Similarly, how did the Lord of the Rings story change from the 1954-55 novels to the 2001-03 films? Why? Also, how do these memes begin?In the clip below film director Peter Jackson talks about how he was first inspired into film making by the 1933 version of King Kong
. It is as if the King Kong meme took over this mind, metaphorically speaking. Even to the extent that the meme was replicated in the 2005 version of King Kong
directed by Jackson.I'm am also interested in the King Kong films because of their racist overtones. In 2005 NPR asked: Do the King Kong films perpetuate racial stereotypes? Listen below.
And now let's combine the meme and racism ideas. There exists a certain visual meme that is related to the King Kong films and racism. This visual meme continues to replicate itself from World War II propaganda posters to Lady Gaga album covers. Die already, visual meme. Why doesn't it die? Why do certain memes replicate?
