"Meme-tivism" for Urban Justice

Memes, often characterized by their humorous and viral nature, have become a ubiquitous form of online expression, shaping the way we engage with and understand contemporary issues. Their potential as a tool for political expression and advocacy has been increasingly recognized, turning humor into a medium for raising awareness, critiquing power, and imagining alternatives. Meme-tivism is a methodology that builds on this potential, developed by Sinem Görücü and feministdesign.co, which leverages the participatory, visual, and creative qualities of meme culture to explore social and political issues. At MARUF, Meme-tivism turns its focus to urban justice, inviting participants to a hands-on session where they co-generate playful yet critical memes that spark dialogue, reflection, and collective imagining, while weaving in participants’ experiences and insights from MARUF program discussions.