Memes of Gandhi and Mercury in Anti-Vaccination Discourse

Buts, Jan

[journal article]

dc.contributor.author	Buts, Jan	de
dc.date.accessioned	2020-08-26T06:13:24Z
dc.date.available	2020-08-26T06:13:24Z
dc.date.issued	2020	de
dc.identifier.issn	2183-2439	de
dc.identifier.uri	https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/handle/document/69395
dc.description.abstract	This study focuses on two widely circulating memes in the anti-vaccination movement, namely lists of vaccine ingredients containing mercury, and quotes attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. Mercury has been identified by conspiracy theorists as one of the most harmful components of vaccines, and Gandhi, who has condemned vaccination practices, has been celebrated as a significant source of authority. Quotes attributed to Gandhi against vaccination, complete with picture and embellished font, circulate across various popular platforms, as do intimidating images of syringes dipped in poison coupled with a list of seemingly occult or dangerous ingredients. This article analyses both memes, moving from the imageboard 4chan to the search engine Google Images, and illustrates how the repurposed, often ironic use of visual tropes can either undermine or strengthen the claims that accompany them. The aim is to explore the intersections of conspiracy theory, visual rhetoric, and digital communication in order to elucidate the ambiguity of memes as vehicles for the spread of controversial health-related information.	de
dc.language	en	de
dc.subject.ddc	Publizistische Medien, Journalismus,Verlagswesen	de
dc.subject.ddc	News media, journalism, publishing	en
dc.subject.other	conspiracy theories; memes; misinformation	de
dc.title	Memes of Gandhi and Mercury in Anti-Vaccination Discourse	de
dc.description.review	begutachtet (peer reviewed)	de
dc.description.review	peer reviewed	en
dc.identifier.url	https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/2852	de
dc.source.journal	Media and Communication
dc.source.volume	8	de
dc.publisher.country	PRT
dc.source.issue	2	de
dc.subject.classoz	Medienpolitik, Informationspolitik, Medienrecht	de
dc.subject.classoz	Media Politics, Information Politics, Media Law	en
dc.subject.classoz	interaktive, elektronische Medien	de
dc.subject.classoz	Interactive, electronic Media	en
dc.subject.thesoz	Desinformation	de
dc.subject.thesoz	disinformation	en
dc.subject.thesoz	Impfung	de
dc.subject.thesoz	vaccination	en
dc.subject.thesoz	Gesundheitsschaden	de
dc.subject.thesoz	damage to one's health	en
dc.subject.thesoz	Online-Medien	de
dc.subject.thesoz	online media	en
dc.subject.thesoz	Soziale Medien	de
dc.subject.thesoz	social media	en
dc.subject.thesoz	Suchmaschine	de
dc.subject.thesoz	search engine	en
dc.subject.thesoz	Digitale Medien	de
dc.subject.thesoz	digital media	en
dc.subject.thesoz	Information	de
dc.subject.thesoz	information	en
dc.rights.licence	Creative Commons - Namensnennung 4.0	de
dc.rights.licence	Creative Commons - Attribution 4.0	en
internal.status	formal und inhaltlich fertig erschlossen	de
internal.identifier.thesoz	10063936
internal.identifier.thesoz	10045567
internal.identifier.thesoz	10038042
internal.identifier.thesoz	10064820
internal.identifier.thesoz	10094228
internal.identifier.thesoz	10068114
internal.identifier.thesoz	10083753
internal.identifier.thesoz	10036968
dc.type.stock	article	de
dc.type.document	Zeitschriftenartikel	de
dc.type.document	journal article	en
dc.source.pageinfo	353-363	de
internal.identifier.classoz	1080411
internal.identifier.classoz	1080404
internal.identifier.journal	793
internal.identifier.document	32
internal.identifier.ddc	070
dc.source.issuetopic	Health and Science Controversies in the Digital World: News, Mis/Disinformation and Public Engagement	de
dc.identifier.doi	https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v8i2.2852	de
dc.description.pubstatus	Veröffentlichungsversion	de
dc.description.pubstatus	Published Version	en
internal.identifier.licence	16
internal.identifier.pubstatus	1
internal.identifier.review	1
internal.dda.reference	https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/oai/@@oai:ojs.cogitatiopress.com:article/2852
ssoar.urn.registration	false	de

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Interaktive, elektronische Medien
Interactive, electronic Media
Medienpolitik, Informationspolitik, Medienrecht
Media Politics, Media Law

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