Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id FAA09514 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 11 Jan 2002 05:18:56 GMT X-Authentication-Warning: cheetah.nor.com.au: Host 021.analog.ppp.lismore.dataheart.net [202.147.132.21] claimed to be green-machine Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.20020111160936.0071008c@pophost.nor.com.au> X-Sender: jeremyb@pophost.nor.com.au X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.1 (32) Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 16:09:36 +1100 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk From: Jeremy Bradley <jeremyb@nor.com.au> Subject: Re: Knowledge, Memes and Sensory Perception In-Reply-To: <3C3DA3EC.9050600@bioinf.man.ac.uk> References: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3102A6D1CE@inchna.stir.ac.uk> <5.0.2.1.0.20020110034617.00a39130@mail.clarityconnect.com> <00ab01c199dc$4eab7980$509cef9b@intekom.co.za> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
At 02:23 PM 10/01/02 +0000, you wrote:
I think the 'new' meme is indistinguishable
>from learned ones (in terms of it's representation in your head). This
>is why I don't like the transmission restriction in the current meme
>definition. Meme currently refers to the transmitted version of the
>thing I really need a (non-crap) name for.
Surely we can drop the confusion if we get back to a concept whereby we
look at memes as a code and not the manifestation of the code. The
manifestation, cultural artefact, incorporates (makes flesh) elements of
the code, but it is not the code itself.
Take Wade's low-rider jeans example. They accentuate contemporary notions
of masculinity, they are 'tough' (thereby useful), speak to various usanian
legends of cowboy heroes and are supposed to attract members of the desired
sex.
However they (low-rider jeans) are not masculinity, toughness, utility, the
person inside them may not be able to even ride a horse or a Harley and,
left by themselves, will not attract a mate.
So the jeans are not memes, but I think that the narratives which surround
the jeans do embody memetic qualities, which make the jeans attractive to
those people who, are inculcated with the above memes.
Jeremy
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