The billionaire space race: Internet memes and the netizen response to space tourism
This study examined netizen attitudes toward space tourism. A content analysis was performed on 260 memes collected in response to the first tourist-focused suborbital spaceflight of Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin. While findings indicate a variety of perspectives toward both historic moments for t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-05-01
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| Series: | Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666957924000041 |
| _version_ | 1797272424304082944 |
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| author | Joshua D. Bernstein |
| author_facet | Joshua D. Bernstein |
| author_sort | Joshua D. Bernstein |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examined netizen attitudes toward space tourism. A content analysis was performed on 260 memes collected in response to the first tourist-focused suborbital spaceflight of Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin. While findings indicate a variety of perspectives toward both historic moments for the new commercial space industry, the overall sentiment was negative. Using cultural references and humor, this critical response focused on the billionaire founders Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, downplayed their achievement, and questioned their environmental, financial, and social/ethical practices. This discursive contention is sharply opposed to dominant narratives which typically frame space tourism as a net positive for humankind. Findings offer insight into emerging attitudes toward present-day space tourism and potential challenges to the industry's future development. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:28:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e7930da1f6745b7a40a11bf6aac12dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-9579 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:28:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e7930da1f6745b7a40a11bf6aac12dd2024-03-06T05:28:56ZengElsevierAnnals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights2666-95792024-05-0151100122The billionaire space race: Internet memes and the netizen response to space tourismJoshua D. Bernstein0Language Institute, Thammasat University, 2 Prachan Road, Bangkok 10200, ThailandThis study examined netizen attitudes toward space tourism. A content analysis was performed on 260 memes collected in response to the first tourist-focused suborbital spaceflight of Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin. While findings indicate a variety of perspectives toward both historic moments for the new commercial space industry, the overall sentiment was negative. Using cultural references and humor, this critical response focused on the billionaire founders Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, downplayed their achievement, and questioned their environmental, financial, and social/ethical practices. This discursive contention is sharply opposed to dominant narratives which typically frame space tourism as a net positive for humankind. Findings offer insight into emerging attitudes toward present-day space tourism and potential challenges to the industry's future development.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666957924000041Internet memesSustainabilityPublic sphereCounterpublicsContent analysisAlternative tourism |
| spellingShingle | Joshua D. Bernstein The billionaire space race: Internet memes and the netizen response to space tourism Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights Internet memes Sustainability Public sphere Counterpublics Content analysis Alternative tourism |
| title | The billionaire space race: Internet memes and the netizen response to space tourism |
| title_full | The billionaire space race: Internet memes and the netizen response to space tourism |
| title_fullStr | The billionaire space race: Internet memes and the netizen response to space tourism |
| title_full_unstemmed | The billionaire space race: Internet memes and the netizen response to space tourism |
| title_short | The billionaire space race: Internet memes and the netizen response to space tourism |
| title_sort | billionaire space race internet memes and the netizen response to space tourism |
| topic | Internet memes Sustainability Public sphere Counterpublics Content analysis Alternative tourism |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666957924000041 |
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