Are you a fan of political memes? In the 2016 election, did you create, view or share them? Were there any you found particularly smart, funny or disturbing? What do like or not like about these kinds of memes?

Students: Watch the video “The Dark Art of Political Memes” by Amanda Hess, then tell us:



— How do memes influence our perceptions of political candidates, their personalities and their platforms? In your opinion, is this influence mostly beneficial or dangerous to our society, and why?

— According to the author, what are some of the problems political memes pose to democracy? Are there any you disagree with or might add?

— Do you think memes empower citizens, or only give us the illusion of power, as the author suggests? Why do you think this?

— After weighing their costs and benefits, in your opinion, are political memes dangerous to democracy? Why or why not?

— What do you think is the future of meme use in politics?