The Fog is Coming: Semiotic Atmospheres and Mental Decay in Internet Aesthetics

Abstract

What if the contemporary atmosphere in which we find ourselves is not only metaphorical but also physical? The ever-changing nature of the internet’s visual lexicon, its participatory creation dynamics, and its vertiginous velocity make memes a perfect field for studying cultural phenomena while they are still forming. This paper, through a methodology that applies the fast-paced and everchanging nature of social media, will analyze various case studies in which atmosphere plays a central role. Focusing on Liminal Spaces, Core-core, and Brain Rot —analyzed through the theoretical frameworks of Walter Benjamin, and Valentina Tanni— the text will explore the various stages of a process in which memes transform into meta-memes, becoming self-reflective to the point of representing the effects of internet overuse on our psyche. In particular, the “fog is coming” meme will be used as a key to interpreting an atmosphere that is both semiotic and cultural.