ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Rachel Lyon's 2014 Artcritical Article on Reaction GIFs and Orson Welles

publication · 2026-04-22

Rachel Lyon authored an article for Artcritical on May 29, 2014, examining the cultural significance of reaction GIFs. The piece specifically analyzed the "Orson Welles slow-clap" GIF, tracing its origins and widespread online adoption. Lyon explored how this particular animated image functions as a digital communication tool, conveying sarcastic approval or ironic celebration. Her analysis connected the GIF to broader internet meme culture and visual vernacular. The article was published under the domain artcritical.com, which operates on WordPress infrastructure. Readers could engage with the content through RSS feeds and comment functionality. Lyon's writing positioned reaction GIFs within contemporary digital art practices and online expression.

Key facts

  • Rachel Lyon wrote an article for Artcritical
  • The article was published on May 29, 2014
  • The article analyzed the "Orson Welles slow-clap" reaction GIF
  • The piece examined reaction GIFs as digital communication tools
  • Artcritical operates on WordPress
  • The article was filed under unspecified categories
  • Readers could follow responses via RSS 2.0 feed
  • The article connected GIFs to internet meme culture

Entities

Artists

  • Rachel Lyon
  • Orson Welles

Institutions

  • Artcritical

Sources