From Cinematic Memory to Digital Satire: Semiotic Intertextuality in Algerian Facebook Memes

Abstract

This study examines Algerian Facebook memes as intertextual semiotic artifacts circulating within the digital public sphere. Drawing on memetic theory, intertextuality (Kristeva), and Martine Joly’s semiotic framework, the research analyzes three image-based memes derived from Algerian films and television series. Through qualitative semiotic analysis, the study explores how cinematic scenes are recontextualized, transformed, and digitally circulated to generate new layers of meaning.

The findings reveal that Algerian memes operate as dynamic units of cultural transmission in which cinematic memory is reactivated and reinterpreted within contemporary socio-political contexts. Rather than functioning merely as humorous reproductions, these memes constitute intertextual constructions that negotiate cultural identity while adapting to the communicative logic of social media platforms. The study contributes to digital cultural research by positioning memes as evolving semiotic structures embedded in local cultural memory and networked digital circulation.