The Critic and Her Publics Lauren Michele Jackson: "Why Not Memes?"
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May 14, 2024 Guest Lauren Michele Jackson, writer and professor, discusses her critiques of anti-racist reading lists and cultural appropriation. Talks about transitioning from art to writing, digital blackface, and the impact of internet culture. Explores depth, intimacy, and women's culture in literature, highlighting the evolution of the female body and women's culture with a pop culture twist. Analyzes the multifaceted representation of Barbie and its cultural significance.
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Unintentional Career Path
- Lauren Michele Jackson's career path wasn't linear; she started as an art major, considered computer science, and then English with law school in mind.
- It was only in a 19th-century American literature class that she realized pursuing literature academically was possible.
The Internet as Text
- Jackson's early writing explored internet culture, using literary analysis tools to examine memes like Kermit.
- This approach felt playful, applying serious analysis to seemingly ephemeral content.
Internet's Real-World Roots
- Jackson's "Digital Blackface" essay explored how seemingly fun, whimsical internet interactions are still rooted in real-world racial dynamics.
- The internet, she argues, isn't separate from real life; it reflects existing social structures.