Watch the documentary Feels Good Man, which chronicles the evolution of the image of Pepe the Frog. As you watch the film, pay attention to the encoding/decoding loop, how Pepe does not have one meaning, but what the image signifies changes over time and across contexts. Who does Pepe represent at various points in the characters history? What is the role of digital platforms and user generated content? How is Pepe monetized–who is making money from the image, and how? Much of the documentary is a story about the battle for a hegemonic meaning–is there a final meaning of Pepe that supersedes all others? Explain how you arrived at that conclusion.
