Phase 1: Memes & the Romanian Culture
How can memes be used to connect second-generation immigrants - particularly Romanians - to their homeland and preserve culture?
My goal was to see how platforms like Instagram and Facebook can facilitate feelings of belonging and start conversations about cultural identity. I particularly looked at Romanian group accounts.
The Power of Memes
Community builders
They can bring people from diverse backgrounds together.
Spread like wildfire
Eye-grabbing & quick digestible modes of entertainment.
Socially aware
Provides a platform for large numbers of people to voice their opinions.
Fun
They can bring a smile to your face and unleash your interest in a topic.
Key Findings
72% of posts were non-material values
Traditions & language are less likely to change in short periods.
Safe space
The social platforms created spaces for people to share their own experiences
Learning
Being able to learn more about your culture and ask questions.
Commenting
Group interaction creates a sense of community.
Methodology & Organization
I organized the collected Romanian memes using two lenses, the first being Non-Material Values (i.e., Values, Norms & Beliefs, Symbols and Language) and Material Values (i.e., Food and Drinks, Objects, Religious Images, and Music) and the second through a tier list of my personal experiences.
Phase 2: Belonging & 2nd gen EE immigrants
What is belonging, and how do second-generation Eastern Europeans (EE) maintain their belonging in their ethnic background?
After my visual analysis and exploring memes, I wrote a 20+ page paper where I analyzed the psychology of belonging, the Romanian immigrant experience and belonging as an immigrant.
Five Aims
- What is belonging and why do humans feel the need to build connections?
- How does loneliness affect a person’s mental health?
- Provide a background on the Communism and its continued effects on Eastern Europeans.
- Explore the difficulty in maintaining your ethnic identity as a 2nd-gen Eastern European.
- How do Eastern Europeans preserve their identity through intergenerational relationships?
