The implicit as argumentation in memes

Abstract

This work discusses,in the light of the argumentative semantics and rhetoric, the implicit in the discurse of memes on Facebook at the time of the countergovernmental demonstrations, in Brazil in 2015. Under the Ducrotian perspective, we defend that the argumentative value of words is responsible for the argumentative direction of the discourse. In our methodology of analysis, we resort to the journalistic technique of lead and to the Charaudeaunian description of the enunciation scene (or discursive scene). From what is linguistically available, we propose the contents that are put and presupposed. When researching the situational context, according to the historicity, ideology and shared knowledge of each situation of enunciation, we infer the possible sub-understandings in order to comprehend what the statement intends to say with what is spoken. The analyzed statements were produced by Internet users and they carry the subjective marks, the ideological opinions of their authors. The sense ―grasped by the presuppositions and sub-understandings― ironic and mocking of the memes, observed in this work, constructs humorous discourses of opposition, revolt and resistance. The authors of the memes, while laughing and being ironic about the protest against Dilma Rousseff (on March 15, 2015), intended to criticize, decrease and discredit the demonstration.