"(Re)Mythologization" GROUP ASSIGNMENT (2)

1. We are remixing the swine flu outbreak of 2009 via the spread of Jersey Shore. We chose this event because it was largely swept under the rug and hasn't been talked about much since. There were also undeniable parallels between the two events and we felt it couldn't be ignored.

2. It is probably even more applicable today. The spread of information is equally or more viral, refreshed in the means of technology that have cropped up even since 2009. Information can be circulated quickly and with ease nowadays.

3. We started by looking through a timeline of historical events ranging from the 1990's to present day. We each bounced ideas off of each other from the recession to natural disasters. We settled on the swine flu outbreak when we realized that Jersey Shore premiered in the same year and the viral spread was apparent in both.

4. The event in this scenario is taking place in the Jersey Shore, but the effects of the 'virus' are felt nationwide.

5. The original characters are strains of the virus. We remixed them by assigning them to specific Jersey Shore characters. Each character has a different 'makeup' and goes by a nickname, i.e. 'Swine flu' is equivalent to 'Snooki'.

6. We chose these characters because there is a degree of distaste when it comes to Jersey Shore. People can conceptualize the fact that the show is 'gross' but continue to consume it. It almost infects brains in the same way a flu would infect immune systems.

7. The inclusion of these characters changes the understanding of the event by almost diagnosing some of our digital media habits as medical. It sheds light on the idea of 'viral' content and raises questions regarding why we share the things we do.

8. These translations bring up questions about how and why we share digital information. The flu is translated from personal contact and we tend to glean information on trends from people close to us as well. You are just as likely to contract a craze for a viral video from a friend as you are to contract the common cold.

9. One challenge was definitely picking an event and modernizing it. We had some difficulties assigning characters and working out the logistics of the scenario.

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