Meme focusing on Environmental issues

The focus is the pizza paper plate. A simple paper plate that could have easily been thrown in the garbage. I gathered these images as I was walking around in the Bronx in New York City. Honestly, when I took the first two images I didn’t even realize there was a pizza paper plate until looking back at my camera roll which made it pretty funny to me in an unfortunate way. After seeing those two images, it was easy to spot more pizza paper plates on the floor. I decided I was going to create my meme focusing on environmental issues. I realized I can put these three images together focusing on littering. The message I was able to perceive is that humans continue to trash this world not understanding the effect it may have on the environment. Many floods have been occurring destroying people's property and worsening the environment. This can be because of the trash that has been piling up not allowing water to run down the sewers. This goes beyond a pizza paper plate easily being spotted and trash just piling up. Littering has been affecting the ocean, animals, and the air we breathe. 

Those who are in power don’t seem to care for the environment unless they are being economically satisfied which is why it is important for us to make small changes in our life to work towards living a sustainable lifestyle for the future generations of people that will live after us. As seen in the second image, if you look closely you’ll realize all the trash that has been thrown onto the dirt. It is important that we use these images which can also be looked at as environmental, social, and political art to bring about change. The article, “Memes Are Our Generation's Protest Art,” by Sage Lazzaro says “At their core, all memes, regardless of their politics, are a tool for expression. ‘Memes help to articulate specific points, amplify ideas, and intensify emotions,’ Burroughs said. ‘Something can be comedic or a joke and still be incredibly poignant.’” I thought it was pretty funny that I spotted the pizza paper plate in the images I took. Although I was able to take the images and make it seem like something funny, the meme relates to a very important topic. The article, “How Memes Are Making Protest Art More Powerful,” by Lizzie Fison says, “ More than just humorous interventions, these memes undermine the pretensions of power and respect politicians use as a de-facto method for quieting dissent and broadcasting their often contemptuous messages.” Images seem to be able to take important messages and allow them to be heard all around the world. Social media has helped with that. I hope that this image can show how humans need to take responsibility and start working together to clean the environment we live in. It is important that we spread awareness and allow others to be informed on the issues going on in this world as Krzysztof Wodiczko did which was mentioned in The Interventionists: Users’ Manual for the Creative Disruption of Everyday, stating that “Wodiczko has coined the term, “Interrogative Design” to describe his works which both address social issues as well as provide a band-aid to them. Like a band-aid, the works both temporarily help a wound as well as bring attention to it.” Wodiczko was able to create nomadic instruments as we were able to create memes to get a message across addressing social issues. These images “reflect what’s happening in society, and help justify feelings of rage and fear while helping us feel less alone,” as Sage Lazzaro stated. The images I chose reflect back on the environmental issues we are facing and how we must come together to fix them. If you notice on the bottom right of the image it says to stop littering. I also used an emoji to show what people should be doing instead which is throwing trash where it belongs which is the garbage can. Something very simple that can make a huge impact in this world.