A MULTIMODAL STYLISTIC STUDY OF MEMES IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN DIGITAL LANDSCAPE

Abstract

This paper investigates the multimodal meanings that are communicated by Nigerians with the use of internet memes. It focuses on the peculiarity of the digitally conscious generation of youths to challenge both linguistic and social status quo. The qualitative research design involves a systematic exploration of how visual and linguistic resources interact to construct meaning, express social commentary, and engage audiences across digital platforms. Although earlier studies on memes in multimodal studies have researched the subject matter with reference to politics, children’s literature and advertising, this study presents an innovative paradigm in its theoretical approach and aim of study, which is stated above. Using both Visual Grammar and Kress and Van Leuween’s (2006) offshoot of Halliday’s Functional Grammar, it analyses purposively selected data with a view to projecting their semiotic communicative values in relaying lived-Nigerian realities and the users’ attempt(s) to (re)construe age-long ‘truths’. Twenty memes from Instagram, X and Tik-Tok that cover themes on education, social-economy and self-deprecation are studied. Findings reveal that memes employ symbolism, synecdoche, allegory, metaphor, analogy and iconography to convey thoughts that deconstruct aphorisms, question wise-sayings and torpedo age-old anecdotes. Also, the paper argues further that the interpretations of the selected memes are largely dependent on shared socio-cultural knowledge, contextual awareness, and familiarity with contemporary Nigerian experiences. The study concludes that multimodality is a veritable source of compressing thoughts that singular modes may not be able to sufficiently accommodate or communicate.