Betwixt the Popular and Academic: The Histories and Origins of Memetics

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dc.contributor.authorJesiek, Brent K.en
dc.contributor.committeechairDowney, Gary L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberReeves, Barbara J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberBoler, Megan M.en
dc.contributor.departmentScience and Technology Studiesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:36:33Zen
dc.date.adate2003-07-11en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:36:33Zen
dc.date.issued2003-04-21en
dc.date.rdate2004-07-11en
dc.date.sdate2003-05-22en
dc.description.abstractIn this thesis I develop a contemporary history of memetics, or the field dedicated to the study of memes. Those working in the realm of meme theory have been generally concerned with developing either evolutionary or epidemiological approaches to the study of human culture, with memes viewed as discrete units of cultural transmission. At the center of my account is the argument that memetics has been characterized by an atypical pattern of growth, with the meme concept only moving toward greater academic legitimacy after significant development and diffusion in the popular realm. As revealed by my analysis, the history of memetics upends conventional understandings of discipline formation and the popularization of scientific ideas, making it a novel and informative case study in the realm of science and technology studies. Furthermore, this project underscores how the development of fields and disciplines is thoroughly intertwined with a larger social, cultural, and historical milieu.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-05222003-135128en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05222003-135128/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/42774en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartbkj_ThesisFull.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectdiscipline formationen
dc.subjecthistoryen
dc.subjectmemeen
dc.subjectmemeticsen
dc.subjectpopularizationen
dc.subjectorigin storiesen
dc.titleBetwixt the Popular and Academic: The Histories and Origins of Memeticsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineScience and Technology Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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