Beta Meme Classification Taxonomy

This is my first shot at creating a meme classification system. I beg your indulgence, for all the things I glossed over and the abstraction of some of these ideas. Since, Richard Dawkins, first introduced the meme, meme people have struggled to define it. Some definitions focus on the genetics version that Dawkins used while others prefer the virus model. Because of this schism there has never been a clear definition of a meme, but to do this classification I had to settle for one.

Meme Definition

I am going to start with Dr. Finkelstein's definition of a meme. He has argued for the genetics definition but his final version is developed from a viral standpoint and is very short.

A meme is information which propagates, persists and has impact. (Finkelstien, 2008:15)

Based on this definition any classification system has to address how a meme propagates, persists and has impact. My system will try to do this, though, I think this is done in combination of facets and chains.

T Reynolds Meme Taxonomy

In my previous post on classification, I suggested the biological taxonomy made good model for a meme classification system. Since, then I have reviewed the virus taxonomy, however, I found it lacking and decided to return to the biological taxonomy. Th e taxonomy consist of chains called:

Life, Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species.

One look at memes, and you know they don't stand alone. Without going into Kantan arguments about knowledge, I think we know meme's rank somewhere along the chain as a Domain. The Kingdom chain, consist of the facets of genetic approach and virus approach. The genetic approach looks at epic cultural shifts. The virus or SARS approach looks at smaller shifts occurring over shorter time frames. From this point on I am developing the Viral Kingdom.

The next chain down in the biological taxonomy is Phylum The most important part of Finkelstein' definition is the idea of propagation or replication. This is the delivery system of the meme. I therefore use the Phylum to look at format of the meme, with facets being: Digital (non Internet), Internet (non Social Network), Social Network, Hard copy or non digital. The next chain is the class known as media type made up of the facets like: video, audio and print.

The next chains deals with how the meme makes its impact. The first of these is the Order Communication type. Here I use, Thomas A Seboak's, different type of instinctive messages, to define my facets. These are the four different types of messages we send out. The first is the monologue, which is delivered without regard to the receiver...its just broadcasted. The next one is phatic communication or conversations. The third is the Emotive message, these are sent to explain the condition of the sender to the receiver. (I have been made). The last is the Vocative and Imperative or simply put commands (Campbell, 1968:667). The sixth chain is Family or Method. Here I use, Roland Barthes', idea of symbols, signs and signals to define my facets (Adams 2005:88).

The final two chains are Genus/Style and Species/Target(s). The Genus Style's facets are made up of the many different styles one uses. Here is a short list: humor, academic, news, religious, political, anger. Finally we have the Species Target made up facets of: Individual(s), Group, Organization, Government or Geographic area.

Example

Now Tony suggested we run our blogs through the classification system. I ll start with this blog.

1. Domain: Meme
2. Kingdom: Virus (designed to spread an idea)
3. Phylum/Format: Social Network (blog posting)
4. Class/Media Type: Print (It is made up of words)
5. Order/Communication Type: Monologue (Broadcasted to all)
6. Family/Method: sign (I am defining a meme not making a meme)
7. Census/Style: Academic (Formal research)
8. Species/Target: Group (those who read this blog SMiSC community)

Some concerns

• In this first attempt I stuck to the 8 chains of the biological taxonomy so my system is a bit restrictive and probably needs one or two more chains. Specifically something has to be done between the Format and Media type. There is to much overlap and confusion here.

• Next most memes that SMiSC wants to monitor will be of the Order Vocative and Imperative which is often synchronous communication between sender and receiver. When dealing with social networks your talking Twitter at best but most likely IM systems built into a social network such as Facebook IM. This means much of the important communication will be lost unless these systems are monitored.

Works Cited 

Finkelstein, Richard

            2008  Compendium and a Military Memetics Overview: Robotic Technology Inc. 

Adams, Paul

2005 The Boundless Self: Communication in physical and virtual spaces. Space,

place, and society. Syracuse, N.Y: Syracuse University Press. 

Campbell, Joseph

            1968 Creative Mytholog,y N.Y. N.Y.:  Pinguin Compus