Media Text Analysis # 2

For another social media analysis, we are looking at another meme found on the internet that features a famous former boxing champion, Mike Tyson. Tyson speaks with a lisp and there are many people and media memes who make fun of him and his speech deficiency just as seen in this picture. Starting with the text analysis (description), we see a picture of Mike Tyson, from the shoulders up, with his signature tattoo on his face, his mouth closed, and he is dressed nicely. He is looking into the distance, not at the camera. The words are written across the top and bottom, “I Jutht Don’t Underthtand All Thith Madneth” From this we can begin to interpret using the process analysis step. We can easily interpret that the phrase is meant to be, “I Just Don’t Understand All This Madness,” but is constructed to be pronounced in the way that a person with a lisp would read it. By simply, replacing the “S’s” with “Th’s,” people are able to see that this person is not able to pronounce the words the way they are supposed to sound. From this interpretation, we can use the social analysis to explain why this matters. It is clear to see that this meme is meant to tease and point out Mike Tyson’s lisp but in turn also represents the rest of the population that has a lisp. As simple as this meme is, it is rude and hurtful to all people who have this speech impediment. However, it does show us that anyone, including a famous male figure, can live with being teased and ridiculed for their speech problems. So, if we are willing to get a laugh out at even Mike Tyson’s expense, what about adults and children that are not able to cope with the bullying and teasing? This could potentially really affect with someone’s self-esteem and social issues and make them extremely self-conscious to speak amongst others, even their peers. Overall, we feel no one should have to feel degraded or put down by words for such a perpetual action like speaking.