Abstract

This study analyzed the Harry Potter-Balenciaga meme to explore the impact of new memes generated by Generative Al technology on online meme culture. The concept of memes, introduced by Richard Dawkins in ''The Selfish Gene” as units of cultural information, has evolved into contemporary internet memes, becoming a significant element of online culture. The Harry Potter-Balenciaga video, created using Al technology in 2023, garnered significant attention as an innovative online meme, demonstrating an epistemological expansion in the realm of online memes. It transcended the limitations of traditional meme creation by realizing abstract ideas, leading to the emergence of a new meme genre, the 'Idea Meme.' This study captured this phenomenon by considering the Harry Potter-Balenciaga meme as a new genre. It discussed the meme as an Idea-Realizing Meme, based on Shifman's (2016) traditional meme classification, through semiotic analysis of the images and text. By analyzing the three dimensions(content, form, and stance) of the Harry Potter- Balenciaga meme from a semiotic perspective, the study explained how AI-generated memes overcome the limitations of traditional memes and expand communicative and epistemological possibilities. This research aimed to shed light on the impact of the fusion of Al technology and online digital culture on cultural life and contribute to digital culture studies and online communication research.

• Keywords: Online memes,Meme Genres,Semiotic Analysis,Harry Potter,Balenciaga