Extensive research on the Apology Cake:
This project originally began as an archive for my apology collection. Over the course of a year, it developed into a set of emojis, an article, and a larger scale research project. You can read the article, published in The Indy, "Communicating Through Taste and Text"
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Cakes provide an edible vessel for communication, and though they are traditionally only use as a medium for messages of “Happy Birthday” or the occasional “Congratulations”, cakes have been given new communication opportunities as mediums for often public apologies. What does it mean to publicly apologize to someone? What does it mean to apologize via a baked treat? Most importantly, what does it mean to eat an apology?
Many stumble upon the phenomena innocently, unaware of it’s growing presence and meme culture connections. The first cake I found read simply, “Sorry I’m So Stupid.” Through further research, I discovered that the apology cake is embedded into internet culture, which means that much of the critical conversation about the phenomena occurs through online publications and social media.
Cakes provide an edible vessel for communication, and though they are traditionally only use as a medium for messages of “Happy Birthday” or the occasional “Congratulations”, cakes have been given new communication opportunities as mediums for often public apologies. What does it mean to publicly apologize to someone? What does it mean to apologize via a baked treat? Most importantly, what does it mean to eat an apology?
Many stumble upon the phenomena innocently, unaware of it’s growing presence and meme culture connections. The first cake I found read simply, “Sorry I’m So Stupid.” Through further research, I discovered that the apology cake is embedded into internet culture, which means that much of the critical conversation about the phenomena occurs through online publications and social media.
In an unusual extension of the phenomena, some internet users will write humorous apology letters (set in the typeface comic sans) on top of images of cakes. I used this technique to inform viewers about apology cakes.
