Creating the Sample

This week I am taking my project a step further in what and how I am assessing these memes related to the Kavanaugh hearings. Here I am going to list three criteria I will be using throughout this project.

Refining Meme Research

My research explores the theme of gender (as per the binary system in place) and race and how internet memes frame historical and controversial events.

This case study is focused on the Brett Kavanagh hearing regarding the allegations made by Dr. Ford against him. The memes are directly from Kavanaugh’s reaction of said claims from the hearing on September 27, 2018.

My proposed research question is: What messages are sent when internet memes are made regarding legislative hearings, specifically the Kavanagh hearing regarding allegations of sexual assault when featuring reactions targeting racial or gender?

To answer this question, I will study 10 internet memes highlighting Kavanagh’s reaction to the allegations during the hearing and observing how his response is compared to someone of a different gender or race.

Memes will be selected on the following criteria: include an image of Brett Kavanagh, are from the hearing held on September 27th, and text referencing gender and/or race.

Below are two examples in which I will include within this study. Both memes feature Kavanagh at the hearing and focus on either gender or race. These two memes specifically look at gender, in how there are double standards for women in the professional domain.

Credit: X 

This first meme depicts one of the many infamous images of Kavanagh, in which he is seen losing his composure during this rather severe moment. It directly highlights how women are told to keep their emotions in check; otherwise, they are deemed unstable enough for any position. However, when he lost his composure, he was considered to be as someone who was hurt and a passionate man trying to defend himself.

Credit: X 

The second meme showcases another infamous moment from the trial in which Kavanagh is screaming, and the women behind him show a range of emotions. This text indirectly calls out the notion that women should smile more, we even have the term “resting bitch face” because if women are not smiling, they are deemed to be a “bitch”.

These two memes highlight some of the main critiques made by women in how Kavanagh handled himself and was revered by those in support of him.

Meme Project Proposal

What shall it meme?

Alright, the time has come, I must select a direction for this blog. For this blog, and in turn the rest of my posts, I will be focusing on memes that are focusing on the Brett Kavanaugh accusations, explicitly focusing on gender and race.

For anyone who does not know who Brett Kavanaugh is, he is a nominee for the Supreme Court and was recently accused of sexual misconduct against three women currently, but I have a feeling this number may rise. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, the first victim to speak up, testified against him on September 27th to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Both during and after the testimony of Dr. Ford and Kavanaugh the internet was abuzz with people sharing their opinions and as well memes from the trial. Kavanaugh lost his composure several times during the hearing, and well some internet users decided to have some fun with this. Although what the hearing regarded was not humorous by any means memes were still created in both favors and against Kavanaugh.

For this project, I will be focusing on memes that compare the two binary genders and/or race. This is such a crucial time in our history, this case is going to dictate so much for our political future, and honestly the way in which we treat our victims of sexual crimes. These memes are an extension of the ways we see the world, it is essential to see what we are sharing on such crucial moments. With this breaking news and event that has no end in sight I feel as though this is the perfect current news to follow and see how perhaps memes even progress over the process, we will see if that comes to be.

The meme of the Week

To give a sneak peek of what is to come, here are two memes that give you an idea of what I will be examining throughout the rest of this process. These memes are helping lay foundational work of what is to come for the rest of this project.

Credit: X

This first meme deals with race and gender all at once. There are many ways that the US still privileges a white male over anyone else honestly. There have been many talks throughout the years how the Constitution was written by white men, for white men, and how to this day we still live by this mindset. The meme depicts a moment in which Kavanaugh lost his composure, and the internet had some fun with it. I selected this because it deals with both aspects of race and gender and has a lot of the viral components of memes which we have discussed in the previous weeks.

Credit: X

The second meme focuses specifically on gender, comparing Kavanaugh and Hillary Clinton. In both memes we see them poking fun at his inability to remain professional during this hearing. However, now we see how someone else who is a higher-ranking official was on trial and was able to stay calm during their trial, and it was even a woman who could do it. I selected this meme because this helps to examine some of the double standards that exist in our country and how this can be harmful.