Date: Monday 21st March, 2022

Time: 09:30 - 16:30

Venue: Atlas Rooms, Kilburn Building, School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL

We are excited to announce our workshop on ‘Memes and Methods’; a cross-theme event bringing together the Digital Futures Citizens and Democracy and Digital Trust and Security themes. We would like to invite researchers, especially those in the early career stage, to submit abstracts based on their current research related to the topic. We are particularly interested in proposals that focus on the development of new methods to examine the production, re-production and consumption of memes and other types of visual imagery across virtual spaces.

Please note: travel bursaries are available. Preference will be given to Early Career Researchers attending on a self-funded basis.

Get involved:

• Register your interest in your chosen session(s):

1. Session 1 will be a series of short presentations on existing methods (both recent and longer-established) used to examine memes or other visual imagery in digital spaces.
2. Session 2 will be an interdisciplinary workshop focused on the development of innovative methods. Note: to attend Session 2, you will need to attend Session 1, as these presentations will inform workshop group discussions.

Further details about this event:

In recent years, memes and other visual images have become increasingly widely used and serve as potent instruments for influencing online audiences. Memes can serve as an ‘easy’ point of entry to discover extreme content and engage with ideologies that counter core values of liberal democracy.

In this workshop, we are interested in bringing together researchers from a range of disciplines to discuss the ways in which memes and images are studied to spread ideas within society and particularly the methods that are being used and developed to support this research. Our goal is to share current thinking and needs in this area, to identify gaps and contribute to solutions.

While the focus is not limited to a particular topic, we are keen to hear from researchers working on the use of images online to foster political insecurity and distrust, through promoting extremist ideas, uncivil speech, conspiracy theories and radicalisation.

We are very open to considering other applications of meme research, however, and encourage submissions from all those who are engaged in innovative research that examines the impact of memes in society. In order to create an engaging discussion, capacity will be limited. Event organisers will be in touch promptly following your registration of interest. We look forward to hearing from you and learning more about how you are addressing this exciting field of research.

Event structure:

9.30 – 12.30 Session 1: Presentations (in-person, with the option of presenting via video-call)

1.30 – 4.30 Session 2: Methods workshop (in-person)

Deadline for applications:

Please note that the deadline for applications is 11th March, 5pm.

Digital Futures:

Digital Futures is a highly interdisciplinary network which operates across the whole range of the University’s digital research.

To find out more about activity in Digital Futures, sign up to the Digital Futures newsletter here.