The Empathetic Meme

Situating Chris Crocker Within the Media History of LGBT Equality Struggles

Datos Bibliográficos

ID5819798
AutoresD T Scott (0000-0002-3682-0591, Clemson University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2014
Volumen38
Número4
Páginas308-324
Fecha de publicación2014-09-23
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Communication Inquiry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0196-8599 • E-ISSN: 1552-4612
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0196859914550690
OpenAlexW2136709150
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas44

This essay argues for the historical significance of a viral video and its memes within mediated struggles for Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender equality. Informed by affect, sound, and media studies, I argue that Chris Crocker's "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!" helped form empathy for these populations. Through a close reading of the video, historical contextualization, and examining responses, I describe how his user-generated video, spread widely across various media, can be appreciated as one component in changing social attitudes. To accomplish this, I viewed and transcribed LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!, examined comments, parodies, and other reactions, reviewed media coverage of Crocker at the time and since, and consulted historiographies, trend analyses, and other material on Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender equality struggles in the 21st century

Affect · Contextualization · Humor Studies and Applications · Music History and Culture · Rhetoric and Communication Studies