Full of typos, nonsensical language and bizarre photos, the LOLcats Internet meme has largely been ignored by the art community--until October 23, when LOLarts, an art fundraiser for ‘Partners in Reading’ that featured only artwork inspired by the LOLcats and ICanHasCheezburger, took over San Francisco.
According to LOLarts coordinator Marianne Goldin, LOLcat has been so successful due to its relative exclusivity; the only people who can participate and understand the Photoshopped images are those who spend inordinate amounts of time in front of a computer. I can’t help but notice that it’s a slight variant of this same exclusivity that makes fine art so esteemed.
Image Credit: 1-5 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://flickr.com/photos/58586763@N00/">Agent_Aubergine</a>, 6-10 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/sets/72157608324444241/">Captin Nod</a>
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Meme-inspired Art
- Opportunities for artists and galleries to create and showcase art inspired by popular internet memes.
- Internet Culture Art
- Trend of using internet culture and language in traditional and contemporary art forms.
- Pop Culture Crossover Art
- Opportunities for artists and organizations to create art that bridges the gap between pop culture and traditional art forms.
Where This Applies
- Visual Arts
- Opportunities for artists, galleries, and museums to embrace internet culture and create new experiences for art enthusiasts.
- Marketing and Advertising
- Opportunities for brands to tap into internet culture and create marketing campaigns that resonate with younger audiences.
- Non-profit and Charity
- Opportunities for charitable organizations to embrace internet culture and new forms of fundraising such as meme-inspired art shows.
