LINGUOSEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF RUSSIAN-LANGUAGE INTERNET MEMES (BASED ON THE TEMPLATE “EXTRA CONFIDENT SHARIKOV”)

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyze the meme “Confident Sharikov” as a meta-sign of modern Russian-language Internet communication in an ironic key. At the beginning of the article, the concept of “Internet memes” is characterized; then several specific memes built on the template “Confident Sharikov” are considered. The memes depict a character sitting on a sofa in a relaxed pose; the texts of the memes demonstrate obviously absurd promises of people. The novelty lies in the fact that the work for the first time carries out a comprehensive linguo-semiotic analysis of the Internet meme with the image of Sharikov as a meta-sign regulating the perception and interpretation of ironic messages in the Russian-language digital space. The theoretical significance of the article lies in the possibility of using its results in the process of conducting further research on Internet folklore, as well as related topics. The practical significance of the work is that its results can be useful for cultural scientists, philologists, linguists, urban anthropologists, etc. The work can also be useful to a wide range of interested persons.