Meme Categories:
Category: Crows
First Seen:
2023-05-10T21:03:35+00:00
Gemma-3-27b's Take:
Okay, let's break down this Reddit post and comment through the lenses you've requested. It's a quirky little interaction, so not all lenses will apply equally, and some might feel like a stretch – that's inherent in applying theory! **I. Visual Description** The image is a screenshot of a Reddit post from the subreddit r/NoStupidQuestions. The post is titled "How do I attract a ton of crows/ravens to my yard?" with a user's account icon and timestamp. The poster expresses a desire, as new homeowners, to create an environment evocative of a "ominous" aesthetic, filled with crows/ravens. The post explicitly requests advice that doesn’t harm the birds. The post has received significant engagement in terms of upvotes and comments. Below the post is the “Best” comment from another user, "DonnerPartyKebabs". This comment provides practical advice on attracting crows/ravens and even suggests a transactional relationship – offering rewards for “gifts” brought by the birds, with a darkly humorous caveat about training them to rob. **II. Foucauldian Genealogical Discourse Analysis** This interaction offers a fascinating entry point for a Foucauldian analysis centered on *domestication* and *power/knowledge*. * **Discourse of Control:** The desire to “attract a ton” of crows isn't just about appreciation for wildlife. It’s an impulse to *manage* nature – to curate an aesthetic through controlling the presence of these animals. The very act of seeking “tricks” is an attempt to *know* how to manipulate the behavior of crows, thereby exerting power over them. * **Genealogy of "Pet-Keeping":** We can trace a historical line from traditional domestication of animals (dogs, cats) to this desire to attract/reward wild animals. It's a continuation of the impulse to exert control over the non-human world, to define a relationship where humans are the givers of value (food, shelter, attention) and expect something in return. * **Knowledge and Normalization:** The commenter’s advice, while presented playfully, normalizes the idea of trading with wild animals. This contributes to a discourse where wild animals aren't seen as autonomous entities but as potentially trainable beings with whom one can engage in economic exchange. The comment further highlights how even seemingly innocent desires (attracting birds) can become entangled in power dynamics. * **Panoptic Implications:** The suggestion of setting up a platform and keeping a consistent schedule, while practical, subtly suggests a surveillance aspect. The homeowner becomes a watcher, documenting and rewarding specific behaviors – a mini-panopticon. **III. Marxist Conflict Theory** While subtle, a Marxist interpretation is possible. * **Exploitation of Labor (avian):** The commenter's suggestion of rewarding crows for "gifts" is a direct analogy to labor and wages. The crows are performing a "service" (bringing objects) in exchange for "payment" (peanuts). This highlights a conflict between the birds' natural behavior and the homeowner's imposition of a transactional relationship. * **Commodity Fetishism:** The "gifts" the crows bring become commodities, imbued with value by the homeowner. This obscures the fact that the crows' behavior is not inherently motivated by economic exchange. * **Class Distinction:** The homeowner, as the one controlling the "means of production" (the peanuts and platform), occupies a position of power over the crows, creating a class-based relationship. **IV. Postmodernism** The interaction lends itself to a postmodern reading in several ways: * **Blurring Boundaries:** The post and comment blur the boundaries between the "natural" and the "artificial." Attracting crows isn't about letting nature take its course; it's about constructing a curated aesthetic. * **Simulation and Hyperreality:** The desired “ominous” aesthetic is a simulation, a constructed image based on cultural representations of crows and ravens. The homeowner is not seeking a genuine connection with nature but with a particular *idea* of nature. * **Irony and Playfulness:** The darkly humorous suggestion of training crows to rob introduces an element of irony and playfulness, disrupting any notion of a straightforward, sincere desire to connect with wildlife. * **Deconstruction of "Nature":** The very act of trying to “manage” nature through rewards and platforms deconstructs the idea of nature as something pristine and untouched. **V. Critical Theory** The Reddit post and comment can be interpreted through the lens of Critical Theory as an example of human dominion over the natural world. The poster's goal of attracting crows to create a specific aesthetic demonstrates a desire to control and manipulate the environment to fit human desires. This aligns with the Critical Theory critique of instrumental rationality, where nature is seen as a resource to be exploited for human ends. The commenter's advice reinforces this perspective by suggesting a transactional relationship with the crows, turning them into objects of exchange rather than respecting their inherent worth. **VI. Queer Feminist Intersectional Analysis** This is the most challenging lens to apply, and feels somewhat strained, but here's an attempt: * **Dominance & Control (Queer Theory):** The desire to control the crows' behavior parallels broader societal structures of dominance. Just as certain groups are marginalized and controlled, the crows are subjected to the homeowner's will. The post can be viewed as a micro-expression of power dynamics. * **Commodification of Nature (Feminist Theory):** The treating of nature as a resource to be curated aligns with a historical pattern of objectifying and exploiting the non-human world, similar to the objectification of women and other marginalized groups. * **Intersectional Perspective:** Consider how access to the resources needed to create this "ominous" aesthetic (land, materials, food) might be tied to privilege and access. It is not available to everyone, creating a power dynamic where only some can exert control over the natural world. **Important Note:** Applying theory is always interpretative. These are not definitive readings but possible lenses through which to examine a seemingly simple online interaction. The strength of each analysis varies.
Llama-3.2-11b's Take:
The meme is a screenshot of a Reddit comment thread, where a user asks "How do I attract a ton of crows/ravens to my yard?" The top comment, from a user named "DonnerPartyKebab", responds with a humorous and sarcastic answer, saying "Just put out a bunch of trash, I mean, I'm not saying that's the answer, but...".