Listicles, ‘explainers’, quizzes, memes – today’s social web has seen the rise of a host of new ways to express and share ideas. This talk traces the rise of these emerging genres which have taken over our collective digital culture, with their emphasis on visual communication, remixing and pop culture references. Where did these forms come from? How are they transforming the way we write and think about the world around us? And can you really explain philosophy with cat GIFs?
BIO
Chris Rodley is a PhD candidate in Digital Cultures within the Department of Media and Communications at the University of Sydney. His doctoral research focuses on the impact of social data on digital writing. Chris is also a contributor at BuzzFeed, where he has written a number of posts combining pop culture with theory, ideas and serious news, such as “Post-Structuralism Explained With Hipster Beards”. Previously, Chris has written on issues in new media and culture for Guardian Australia and The Conversation. He has also written for the BBC and Foxtel, while his new media art collaborations with Andrew Burrell were exhibited at the International Symposium of Electronic Art in 2013 and 2015.
