memes.cjtrowbridge.com

Anti-Classism

First Seen:

2023-05-10T21:03:33+00:00

Gemma-3-27b's Take:

Okay, let's break down this Twitter exchange using the lenses you've requested. It's important to note that with short social media posts, applying these dense theoretical frameworks will be interpretation-based and focus on potential areas of relevance. **1. Visual Description** The image is a screenshot of a Twitter exchange. The first tweet is from an account "@V_sugarbaby" with a profile picture of a person with braids and dark sunglasses. The tweet details a situation where the user feigned ignorance about Harvard University to annoy some people from the institution, eliciting a visible reaction of anger from one of them. The second tweet, from an account "@katy-l-wood", details a story about a coworker who deliberately compliments an older Toyota when near a Tesla, seemingly to provoke a reaction. The tweet ends with the observation that the Tesla drivers "lose their minds". The visual aesthetic is characteristic of Twitter: concise text, usernames, and profile pictures. The use of capital letters ("LMAOOOOOO") and casual language ("lose their minds") contributes to a conversational and somewhat provocative tone. **2. Foucauldian Genealogical Discourse Analysis** This interaction can be interpreted through a Foucauldian lens by examining the *discourse* surrounding status, education, and automobiles, and how power operates within them. * **Power/Knowledge:** The initial tweet plays with the power/knowledge dynamic. Harvard is a powerful symbol—a marker of social capital, exclusivity, and perceived intelligence. By pretending to *not* know it, the user disrupts this established discourse, seeking to destabilize the assumed power held by those affiliated with the institution. * **Genealogy of Status:** The focus on 'elite' institutions (Harvard) and brands (Tesla) traces a genealogy of status markers. The anecdote of the Toyota/Tesla interaction highlights how certain objects become imbued with cultural meaning and used as symbols of achievement and self-worth. The coworker deliberately inverts this established status order by complimenting a 'lesser' product, triggering a response. * **Disrupting Norms:** Both tweets demonstrate an intentional disruption of normative expectations. The expected behavior in these scenarios is to acknowledge and respect the established status of the individual or object. By reversing this expectation, the tweeter/coworker generates a reaction—a display of power in itself. **3. Critical Theory** From a Critical Theory perspective, this exchange illuminates how culture reinforces and reproduces social hierarchies. * **Ideology:** The perceived value of institutions like Harvard and brands like Tesla aren't inherent but *constructed* through ideological processes. Critical Theory would ask *who* benefits from maintaining these constructed hierarchies and how these hierarchies are perpetuated. The reactions to the faux ignorance and the Toyota/Tesla exchange indicate that the established order is fragile, requiring constant reassertion. * **Domination:** The initial tweet can be read as a small-scale act of resistance against a system of domination. The person from Harvard likely believes their institution carries authority, and the act of feigned ignorance undermines that authority. * **Alienation:** The obsession with status symbols like Harvard and Tesla can be seen as symptomatic of a broader culture of alienation. Individuals define themselves through material possessions and affiliations, rather than intrinsic qualities. **4. Marxist Conflict Theory** While not explicit, there's a latent application of Marxist Conflict Theory. * **Class Conflict:** Harvard and Tesla are often associated with upper-class status and wealth. The interactions (particularly the Harvard anecdote) can be seen as a subtle expression of conflict between those with and without access to such privileges. The 'annoyance' displayed by the Harvard students hints at a defense of their class position. * **Commodity Fetishism:** The Tesla anecdote touches on commodity fetishism – the assigning of value to objects beyond their practical use. The Tesla driver's reaction suggests the car isn't just transportation but a symbol of success and status, and any perceived slight to that symbol is met with defensiveness. **5. Postmodernism** Postmodernism finds purchase in the inherent playfulness and deconstruction of established norms in this exchange. * **Simulacra and Simulation:** The value of Harvard and Tesla are arguably based more on their *image* and *reputation* than their actual educational or automotive qualities. The tweets highlight the performative aspect of status and how it can be manipulated. * **Deconstruction of Grand Narratives:** The tweets subtly challenge the 'grand narrative' of meritocracy and the importance of elite institutions. By treating Harvard as unremarkable, the tweeter questions its privileged position. * **Irony and Playfulness:** There's a strong element of irony and playfulness in both anecdotes. The actions aren't driven by genuine ignorance but by a deliberate desire to provoke a reaction. **6. Queer Feminist Intersectional Analysis** This area is the least immediately applicable, but we can still explore it. * **Subversion of Expectations:** The actions can be read as a subversion of social expectations. The tweeter and coworker both challenge the typical power dynamics in these interactions. Such challenges, particularly when enacted by marginalized genders or identities, can be seen as an act of resistance. * **Power and Recognition:** The reactions to the perceived slights demonstrate the importance of recognition and validation. The desire to maintain a certain image (of intelligence, success) is deeply ingrained in social norms, often influenced by patriarchal structures. * **Intersectionality (Potential):** It's worth noting the lack of information about the identities of the participants. The tweets could take on different meanings if we knew more about the genders, races, or other social locations of those involved. **Important Note:** This analysis is an *interpretation* based on the limited information provided. The true meaning of these tweets is likely complex and multi-layered, and open to other readings. Each theoretical framework offers a different lens through which to understand the interaction, highlighting various aspects of power, culture, and social dynamics.

Llama-3.2-11b's Take:

This meme is a screenshot of a Twitter conversation where a user claims to have met a person from Harvard who is pretending to be from Harvard. The user asks if the person is a Harvard student, and the person responds with a sarcastic and humorous answer, saying "In Harvard, Massachusetts" (a play on the phrase "In Harvard, Massachusetts" is a common phrase used to describe someone who is not actually from Harvard, the university is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts). The user responds with a humorous comment, saying "In Harvard, Massachusetts" and the person responds with a sarcastic and humorous answer, saying "In Harvard, Massachusetts" is a common phrase used to describe someone who is not actually from Harvard, the university is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts).