Bernie Sanders Internet Culture And Digital Meme Phenomena

The provided source material documents the internet culture surrounding Senator Bernie Sanders, focusing on the creation, distribution, and evolution of digital memes, hashtags, and viral phrases associated with his political campaigns. The data primarily covers the 2016 and 2020 presidential election cycles, detailing how supporters and critics utilized social media platforms and image-sharing sites to express political sentiment. The sources highlight specific meme formats, the organization of online supporter groups, and the use of specific hashtags to drive political narratives. The documentation does not contain information regarding consumer product samples, free trials, or promotional offers.

Meme Templates and Visual Content

Digital imagery has served as a primary vehicle for political commentary regarding Senator Sanders. Visual content has been widely shared across platforms such as Tenor, Giphy, and Know Your Meme.

Bernie Sanders Chair One of the most distinct visual templates documented is the "Bernie Sanders Chair." This imagery is frequently associated with the "once again asking" meme format. The visual typically depicts Senator Sanders seated, often accompanied by text requesting financial support or political action. This template has been categorized under various tags including #chair, #once, and #again. The image has been utilized to create a recurring narrative of persistent advocacy.

Bernie Sanders Mittens The sources reference the "Bernie Sanders Mittens" meme, which gained traction during the 2021 inauguration. This visual became a staple for reaction GIFs and stickers. The specific tags #bernie-mittens and #inauguration are associated with this imagery. The availability of these assets on GIF keyboard platforms suggests widespread adoption for use in digital conversations beyond strictly political contexts.

Barnie Sandlers Parodies A specific mutation of Sanders’ imagery involves the "Barnie Sandlers" template. This format combines the name of the Senator with references to Adam Sandler or the character Barney the Dinosaur. The content associated with this template typically features altered images of Sanders, often with exaggerated hair or memetic items photoshopped onto him. The text accompanying these images frequently includes the words "dank" or "meme," or makes references to cannabis culture. The "Barnie Sandlers" Twitter account and Facebook page were noted as primary distributors of this content.

Hashtags and Viral Phrases

The documentation outlines several key hashtags and phrases that defined the online discourse surrounding the Sanders campaigns. These tags served as rallying cries for supporters and tools for criticism.

#FeelTheBern The phrase "Feel The Bern" is described as a heavily spread chant and phrase among Sanders supporters. Its origins are traced to Reddit, and it was subsequently adopted for marketing purposes by the campaign. The hashtag #feelthebern generated significant retweet volume. A derivative hashtag, #feelthebarn, was inspired by the Barnie Sandlers meme. The phrase gained mainstream visibility when Sanders referenced a "Feel the Bern" mug on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and when he danced to "Disco Inferno" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, a clip that went viral for its perceived cringe-worthiness.

#BernieLostMe Conversely, the hashtag #BernieLostMe was utilized by supporters of Hillary Clinton to articulate their reasons for opposing Sanders. This hashtag trended after Sanders refused to denounce supporters who engaged in violent behavior at the Nevada Democratic Convention in May 2016.

#OnceAgainAsking Derived from the chair meme, this sentiment is represented in the tags #once, #again, and #asking. It encapsulates the recurring theme of Sanders requesting support, often framed humorously.

Online Organizing and Community Dynamics

The sources provide insight into the organizational structures of Sanders' online support base, specifically regarding Facebook groups and Reddit communities.

Bernie Sanders' Dank Meme Stash This Facebook group was established to create and distribute memes, specifically image macros and exploitables, in support of the 2016 campaign. The group was noted for producing memes at a "high rate of mutation," indicating a rapid evolution of content styles.

Facebook Group Removal Controversy On April 25, 2016, several prominent Sanders-related Facebook groups—specifically identified as "Bernie Sanders For President 2016," "Bernie Sanders 2016 – Ideas Welcome," "Bernie Sanders Activists," "Bernie Believers," and "Bernie Sanders is my Hero"—were reportedly removed from the platform. The removal occurred after these groups were allegedly flooded with sexually explicit content. The incident sparked significant backlash on Reddit, specifically in the /r/SandersForPresident subreddit, where a post regarding the removals received over 9,300 votes and 1,900 comments within 48 hours.

Reddit Engagement Reddit served as a hub for distribution of Sanders-related media. A notable instance involved a Reddit post linking to a Sanders Facebook video titled "Bernie Sanders: In-Depth Explanation of Income Inequality." This post garnered 5,300 upvotes, and the video itself amassed over 6 million views as of February 1, 2016. The platform also hosted discussions regarding the "Feel The Bern" phrase and the "Barnie Sandlers" meme.

Media Commentary and Viral Incidents

The sources document how traditional media and internet culture intersected regarding Sanders' public image.

Bernie Sanders' Hair Media outlets, including The Washington Post and New York Magazine, frequently commented on Senator Sanders' hair. An article published on April 29, 2015, titled "Great Moments in Bernie Sanders' hair," featured humorous captions. On May 15, 2015, New York Magazine noted that the press was obsessed with his physical appearance to a degree not seen with other candidates. Sanders reportedly berated a reporter for asking about his hair on August 17, 2015.

Glowsticks Hoax A viral hoax image, known as "Bernie Sanders Glowsticks," circulated during the 2016 primary. The image contained false instructions for creating homemade luminescent light sticks, intended to trick supporters into making chlorine bombs.

Crowd Size and State Demographics Search interest and media reports highlighted discrepancies in how Sanders' support was portrayed. Reports of Sanders victories in diverse states like Hawaii were met with media descriptions of his base as "white and rural," a narrative that sparked the #BernieBrownStates hashtag. Conversely, reports from The Huffington Post and The Washington Post detailed record-breaking crowd sizes at rallies, including a significant event in Arizona.

Conclusion

The provided source material offers a comprehensive look at the digital footprint of Senator Bernie Sanders, characterized by a high volume of user-generated content. The internet culture surrounding Sanders includes distinct visual templates like the "Bernie Chair" and "Mittens," as well as specific phrases like "Feel The Bern" that transcended online spaces to enter mainstream media. The documentation also reveals the volatility of online political communities, evidenced by the coordinated flooding of Facebook groups and the rapid spread of hoaxes. While the data details the mechanisms of digital political support, it contains no information regarding consumer offers, product samples, or free trials.

Sources

1. Tenor GIF Search Results
2. Know Your Meme - Bernie Sanders
3. Giphy - Bernie Sanders Explore Page