Rhetorical Situation
This meme takes place in a grocery store during the Corona Virus pandemic. The language of the sign and the labels indicate that this photo was taken in an American store.
The Goal of the Neo-Marxist Analysis
According to Sellnow Neo-Marxist Analysis goals is to, “Help expose how material conditions and economic practices shape dominant ideology regarding taken-for-granted assumptions about who ‘ought to be’ and ‘ought not to be’ empowered” (Sellnow 135).
Artifact Description
In this picture, we see a grocery store with a box of Corona Extra brand beers with toilet paper stacked on top of the crates. The dominant ideology is capitalistic in nature, a store is using the COVID 19 as a means to sell more beers and toilet paper. Above this display, there is a sign that quotes, ” Free Roll with every carton of Corona Extra”. This sign also the main joke of the meme. It is a reference to the Covid 19 or Corona Virus and since there is a beer that is a similar name people will make jokes about it. The “Freeroll” is a reference to the unnatural and strange amount of toilet paper being bought. Unlike most epidemics, these one people are not stockpiling on supplies, but toilet paper. There are empty shelves in places such as Italy that are empty. The sign looks to be an official since it is hanging over the crates and typed professionally, the store is using this funny sign in order for people to buy more beer and get a free roll of toilet paper. This excess is causing these toilet paper shortages in many of the stores. This is caused by the media coverage of the virus and it is feeding the fears of the people.
Final Thoughts
This funny picture is posted as a sort of counter-measure to ease the tension of the Coronavirus fears. Memes are an expression of the times, it is a new art form. When I first saw this I found it hilarious since it is true, even in Farmville there are empty shelves of toilet paper, yet the wet wipes are still well-stocked. I selected this artifact since it was appropriate since Longwood classes are online.
I hope everyone stays safe, ahead in their courses, and healthy.
Sources
Article Link
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/11/heres-why-people-are-panic-buying-and-stockpiling-toilet-paper.html
Textbook Citation
Sellnow, Deanna D. The Rhetorical Power of Popular Culture: Considering Mediated Texts. SAGE, 2018.
I got a good laugh out of this post because I went home and even here there is no toilet or when it gets restock it gone in minutes. The comment where you talk about the unnatural and strange amount of it being bought. I understand and I have look everywhere to try and figure out why, but have never being able to find the true reason to why everyone is stockpiling of it. I personally think it because of the memes and this monkey see monkey do thing at people just end up doing for to reason. I also agree with you on the picture and memes about the virus is being used to help cut the tension of it.