First Seen
2023-05-10T21:03:34+00:00
simple-description (llama3.2-vision_11b)
This meme is a humorous comparison between the expected attire for an apocalypse and the actual attire. The text above the images reads, "what I expected my apocalypse outfit to look like vs. how it actually looks." The meme juxtaposes a character from a post-apocalyptic movie or TV show, likely a female warrior or survivor, dressed in a futuristic and rugged outfit, with a person in a mundane setting, such as a grocery store, wearing a face mask, a bathrobe, and slippers. The contrast between the two images is meant to be humorous, highlighting the disparity between the idealized and the actual.
detailed-analysis (gemma3-27b-vision)
Okay, here's an analysis of the meme "what I expected my apocalypse outfit to look like vs. how it actually looks," broken down into the requested theoretical frameworks. I'll include sections only when the meme truly lends itself to the analysis.
Visual Description
The meme juxtaposes two images. On the left is Milla Jovovich as Alice from the Resident Evil film series. She's depicted in a hyper-sexualized, post-apocalyptic action hero outfit: a leather corset, tight pants, knee pads, and wielding two pistols. The background is a desolate, bombed-out urban landscape.
On the right is a photograph of a woman in a supermarket aisle, wearing a light-colored coat over a dress, and a face mask. She is holding a bunch of purple flowers. The background is filled with rows of consumer goods. The overall tone of the second image is mundane and domestic. The implied contrast is between a fantasy of heroic survival and the reality of navigating a modern crisis, such as a pandemic.
Foucauldian Genealogical Discourse Analysis
This meme is rich for Foucauldian analysis. It reveals how discourses around "the apocalypse" and "survival" have been constructed.
Shifting Power/Knowledge: The left image represents a historically recent discourse – the action-hero fantasy of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This discourse positions the body as capable and in control, weaponized, and visually dramatic. The right image shows a shift in what counts* as an apocalypse-relevant scenario. The "apocalypse" is no longer an external, violent event requiring physical combat, but a domestic one that requires compliance (mask) and negotiation of consumer spaces (grocery store). The power shifts to those who comply with safety protocols.
Discipline & Biopower: The right image exemplifies Foucault’s concept of biopower*. The masked woman is subject to (and participates in) systems of social control designed to regulate life itself. The mask is a symbol of discipline, of submitting to public health regulations to manage the population's health. This is a far cry from the individualistic, aggressive survivalism of the left image.
Genealogy of “Survival”: The meme reveals a shift in the genealogy* of "survival." Historically, survival narratives focused on physical prowess and overcoming external threats. Now, survival has been redefined as navigating the social constraints of a pandemic, accepting a limited, interior life, and engaging in the rituals of consumption.
Critical Theory
The meme directly addresses the construction of reality through media and societal expectations.
Culture Industry: The left image is a product of the culture industry* (Adorno & Horkheimer). The hyper-sexualized action hero is a commodified fantasy sold through film and entertainment. This image reinforces a specific (and arguably problematic) ideal of strength and empowerment. The meme critiques this ideal by contrasting it with the ordinary reality of the pandemic.
False Consciousness: The meme implies a critique of "false consciousness." The idealized apocalypse outfit represents a false* sense of control and preparedness. It suggests that we are often distracted by spectacular illusions (the action hero fantasy) while ignoring the mundane, structural problems that truly impact our lives.
* Commodification of Fear: Both images have been commodified for entertainment or consumerism. On the left, action and survival are for profit. On the right, the consumer culture continues to operate even during a crisis.
Postmodernism
The meme fundamentally embraces the key tenets of postmodernism.
Simulation & Hyperreality: The meme deconstructs the “real.” The left image is a simulation* of reality, a media-driven fantasy. The right image is, paradoxically, more “real” as it depicts the actual lived experience of a modern crisis. The meme suggests that the line between simulation and reality has become blurred.
* Deconstruction of Grand Narratives: The meme challenges the "grand narrative" of heroic survival. It suggests that the conventional tropes of apocalyptic fiction (the lone hero, the fight against the enemy) are inadequate to address the complexities of modern crises.
Irony & Pastiche: The meme operates through irony. The juxtaposition of the two images creates a humorous contrast that exposes the absurdity of our expectations. It also functions as a form of pastiche*, mixing together elements of different cultural discourses (apocalyptic fiction, consumer culture, pandemic response).
Queer Feminist Intersectional Analysis (This is less directly applicable, but can be argued)
* Gendered Performance of Survival: The left image (the action hero) is strongly gendered. Historically, action heroes have been male, and even female versions often adopt masculine traits. The meme implicitly critiques this narrow definition of "strength" and "survival." It suggests that survival doesn't necessarily require physical prowess or aggression. The right image represents a more diverse range of survival strategies (compliance, care, navigation of domestic spaces) that have historically been associated with femininity.
* Intersectional Vulnerability: The pandemic disproportionately affects marginalized communities, often along lines of race, class, and ability. The meme, while not explicitly addressing these issues, suggests that survival is not a neutral process. It is shaped by social inequalities. The "ordinary" experience of navigating a pandemic (represented by the right image) is not accessible to everyone.
* Challenging Heroic Narratives: The meme indirectly rejects the patriarchal emphasis on individual heroism. The focus on wearing a mask and maintaining social distance implies that survival is a collective effort, requiring cooperation and care rather than individual strength.
Let me know if you would like me to expand on any of these analyses.
simple-description (llama3.2-vision)
This meme is a humorous comparison between how people might imagine themselves surviving a zombie apocalypse (in a stylish and intimidating outfit) versus how they actually would in reality (in a sloppy and practical outfit). The text at the top reads, "What I expected my apocalypse outfit to look like vs. how it actually looks."
tesseract-ocr
what | expected my apocalypse outfit to look like vs. how it actually looks : —a t ye Se AO aes ® A S. Tr ¥ i a= ae = i = ae — ey - > a = ce | : % ee