當我們爛在一起：厭世迷因讀者的情感、認同與抵抗

Abstract

網路迷因具有反映社會文化現象、凝聚群體認同、反抗傳統價值的意義。觀察台灣的網路迷因，常常瀰漫著一股「我就爛」、失敗、無力感等可以統稱為「厭世」的情緒，因此本研究以「厭世迷因」為題，試圖探討厭世迷因流行現象背後的意義。本研究以情感、認同與抵抗為框架，並以新自由主義作為厭世的背景，討論厭世迷因如何形塑情感共同體，並抒發對傳統價值的抗議，試圖釐清厭世迷因中呈現出的厭世感與哪些社會性結構因素有關。本研究以厭世迷因的讀者角度出發，採用半結構深度訪談法，先後與13位厭世迷因愛好者進行對談，他們的年紀皆屬於Z世代的範疇。此外，研究者收集並整理217則厭世迷因文本，並分為六個類別方便與受訪者討論。在研究結果部分，本研究首先發現厭世迷因具有三個特點：一、從自身延伸出的抱怨／嘲諷；二、基於真實生活；三、笑著笑著就哭了。在接收與分享行為上，讀者最喜歡透過Instagram觀看厭世迷因，並且私訊分享有助於劃分社會群體界線，社群分享則是為自我表述。其次，雖然厭世迷因展現負面情緒，但讀者接收到的情感是正向的，厭世迷因具有宣洩情緒、營造連結感等作用，使讀者可以透過厭世迷因成為情感共同體。然而，厭世迷因讀者在看完後並不會想要做出改變，雖然厭世迷因反映出台灣Z世代面對社會大環境的集體焦慮，但讀者只想是透過厭世迷因「抱怨」，而非做出激烈、實質的抵抗。整體而言，厭世迷因不會涉及嚴肅的議題討論，多數是透過輕鬆、幽默的態度，展現「不要太認真」的消極抗議。且由於厭世迷因難以傳播給想抗議的對象，且對方也不見得看得懂，因此厭世迷因難以成為直接的抵抗工具。不過讀者也肯定厭世迷因具有「發聲」的價值，展現他們與上一代相異的價值觀和集體認同。Internet memes have the significance of reflecting social and cultural phenomena. They unite community identity and rebel against traditional values. From the observation of Internet memes in Taiwan, there is often a wave of emotions that can be collectively referred to as"tired of life", such as "I suck", failure, and powerlessness. This study attempts to explore the meaning behind the phenomenon of "tired of life" memes. The research was based on the framework of affection, identity, and resistance, with neoliberalism as the background of “tired of life. The work investigated how these memes shape emotional communities and protest against traditional values to clarify the social structural factors that are related to "tired of life" memes. From the perspectiveof "tired of life" meme readers, the semi-structured in-depth interview method was applied to 13 "tired of life" meme lovers, all of whom belong to Generation Z. In total, 217 “tired of life” meme texts were collected and categorized into six for discussion with the interviewees. In the research results, the study found that "tired of life" memes possess three characteristics: (1) complaint/mocking extended from themselves, (2) experience based on real life, and (3) laughter turned to tears. Interms of receiving and sharing behaviors, readers are most likely to see"tired of life" memes through Instagram. Private message sharing helps establish social group boundaries, while social sharing is a means of self-expression. On top of that, the emotions received by readers are positive even though "tired of life" memes are negative. The memes function as catharsis and create a sense of connection. As a result, readers can blend into an emotional community through those memes. However, "tired of life" meme readers do not want to make changes after reading them.While the memes reflect the collective anxiety of Taiwan’s Gen Z in the social environment, readers only want to"complain" through these memes rather than making fierce and substantial resistance. Generally, "tired of life" memes do not involve serious discussions; they mostly show passive protests of "don't take it too seriously" in an easy and humorous attitude. Besides, "tired of life" memes have difficulty spreading to those who want to protest, and another group may not understand them. It is hence rare for "tired of life" memes to become a direct tool of resistance. Still, readers affirm that "tiredof life" memes have the utility of "voice." The memes demonstrate the difference in their values and collective identity from those of the previous generation.