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SOCIAL_Commentary_Vol.1

Critical meme analyses

Matt Klein
Feb 21, 2023
∙ Paid
6
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SOCIAL_Commentary is a reading of our memes — theorizing what they say about the zeitgeist — an expression of collective truths.

More: All Volumes


Your perspective isn’t the only one, nor the right one.

There is no “right” one.

Just yours.


Real or not... Equipping everyone with social platforms over the last decade has pulled back the curtain on service-based employment — we now have access to behind the counter shenanigans few were ever aware of. It’s been a regain of social control. The voice at the drive-thru is not just a voice but a real person... one with power.

But then there’s the other side of this: the flurry of YouTube videos and TikToks over the last decade of those who torment drive-thru workers from the safe distance and protection of their cars. At best, it’s been mildly entertaining, and at worst: a startling look at class warfare treated as a joke.


Twitter avatar for @ISASaxonists
Axel Folio, PhD, a half Black/ half brown hobbit @ISASaxonists
If you are gonna do conspiracy theories go big or go home.
shire and hobbit house in top left. top right is the tellytubby house

middle left is 4 hobbits. middle right is 4 tellytubbies

bottom left is the eye of Sauron. bottom right is that freaky baby in the sun from tellytubbies.
2:35 AM ∙ Sep 29, 2022
327,983Likes41,074Retweets

Look long and hard enough and you’ll find patterns in everything.


This is “branding.”

There’s an incredible Godin quote: Imagine if Nike made a hotel. Now imagine if Marriott made a sneaker.

We can picture that Nike hotel. The latter, not so much.

This difference is branding.

Nike has a brand. Marriott does not. Name three distinct characteristics between Marriott and Hyatt. You can’t.

You can’t because they don’t have a brand.

Wes Anderson’s aesthetic is a brand. Consistent differentiation.

This is what anyone building a brand should aspire to.


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