Cultures of Knowledge: Creative Economy and China.
The Summer School + Conference is an initiative of the Digital China Lab. Both events are supported by the Centre for Culture and Technology (CCAT) and the School of Media Culture and Creative Arts (MCCA) at Curtin University.
Presented paper title:
Myth, meme and meaning: mapping the meme in China, online and offline signification
Abstract
As a result of rapid digital innovation in recent years within the Chinese blogging community, a new generation of makers are creating and utilising traditional and digital visual cultural forms for extending communication values. This rise in sharing ideas online by amateur and or anonymous producers has invigorated the co-creation of new symbols; including memes, icons, artefacts and goods of desire. Online co-creation portals move knowledge faster than ever before, albeit the widespread censorship policies in Mainland China. The rise in this way of communicating signifies new ways of communicating creatively, reflecting how powerful the internet is in connecting people, ideas and community. Furthermore, the movement of new symbolism generated online now moves into broader visual culture realms offline, signifying that the internet is a driver for new forms of creative currency reflecting newfound ideologies in the digital age. This research paper examines and maps online co-creation, the dissemination and consumption of Chinese visual culture; including, new symbols/memes, online video and artefacts.