Can communication exist without words? Think of many popular memes you’ve seen recently. Odds are high that you can determine the context and tone of the message before you even read the macros or captions. Although we think of rhetoric as verbal or written communication, rhetoric extends to visual elements as well. Memes may seem like silly nonsense shared by Millennials and Gen Zers, but these younger generations formed a new method of communication among their peers.
Take for example the incredibly popular “Grumpy Cat” memes, featuring Tardar Sauce — an adorable feline with an underbite and dwarfism (McCarthy 2019). Tardar Sauce’s facial expression became ubiquitous with a grumpy attitude. From images expressing “A little bird told me it was your birthday — I ate him” to “Dashing through the no,” the Internet latched onto this furry icon as a means of communicating disgust or displeasure.
Of course, this is only one example of a meme as rhetoric. Feel free to share your favorites in the comments and discuss the context and tone hidden within a simple picture.
Work Cited
McCarthy, Erin. “15 Facts About Grumpy Cat.” Mental Floss. 2019 May 17. http://www. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/53217/16-fun-facts-about-grumpy-cat.
