The Internet meme is a mainstay of our current digital culture. It is a concept, phrase, or piece of media that popularizes and spreads across the Internet. Now the definition of a meme in general is, "an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture" (according to Merriam-Webster). You may notice that these two descriptions of the words are similar, yet when we think of an Internet meme we think of something extremely specific. We think of a GIF with some text layered on top of it. However, it is important to realize that even this seemingly simplistic idea of an Internet meme can often become a widely proliferated idea. Here are just a few examples of popular Internet memes, see if you recognize them.
(Knowyourmeme.com)
It's funny because even these simple Internet Memes all have their own unique purpose. The first is the Forever Alone face. It's a basic yet funny picture used to convey this more complex emotion of solitude or loneliness. It is also just one part of a larger family of Internet memes called the Rage Faces that follow a similar pattern and design to our Forever Alone meme. The second Internet meme example is called Scumbag Steve. I don't actually know if Steve there is a scumbag from that single picture but it sure seems that the Internet thinks so. This meme is used to share anecdotes of people acting like a well...a scumbag. The third meme above is known as the Philosoraptor whose purpose seems pretty evident from its name. This Internet meme is also part of a larger family of advice animals that share anecdotes, advice, or stories.
Looking at these few examples may not grant us a complete understanding of what this word, meme, means in terms of the Internet but it does give us insight into the trends that emerge across the net. The three Internet memes above represent three typical varieties that are commonly used and found across the Internet. An advanced understanding of Internet memes allow individuals to communicate through them to convey emotions, stories, and more.
Internet memes are also distinct from other trends because there is a aura of permanence that surrounds the Internet. The Internet is this strange realm that defies common sense. The idea that what goes up must come down doesn't apply to the Internet. Once something is uploaded it may never come down. Beyoncé learned this lesson the hard way after her performance at the 2013 Super Bowl which spawned this picture.
(link to the story about Beyonce's meme)
When her publicist requested BuzzFeed take down the unflattering photos the result was almost entirely the opposite. The photos of Beyoncé trended and spread across the Internet spawning dozens of hilarious memes.
Previously, the Internet meme was admonished as a strange, unimportant, or even ethereal component of the Internet. But this has never been true because memes by their definition are societal trends, and while these trends may change they always exist in some capacity. These days Internet memes seem like an integral part of our digital culture as they are the creations of the Internet as a community. Memes that are relatable, funny, or that draw from real life become popular as dictated by the millions of users on the Internet.
P.S. - great sites to find memes imgur.com, cheezburger.com and knowyourmeme.com.
(Knowyourmeme.com)It's funny because even these simple Internet Memes all have their own unique purpose. The first is the Forever Alone face. It's a basic yet funny picture used to convey this more complex emotion of solitude or loneliness. It is also just one part of a larger family of Internet memes called the Rage Faces that follow a similar pattern and design to our Forever Alone meme. The second Internet meme example is called Scumbag Steve. I don't actually know if Steve there is a scumbag from that single picture but it sure seems that the Internet thinks so. This meme is used to share anecdotes of people acting like a well...a scumbag. The third meme above is known as the Philosoraptor whose purpose seems pretty evident from its name. This Internet meme is also part of a larger family of advice animals that share anecdotes, advice, or stories.
Looking at these few examples may not grant us a complete understanding of what this word, meme, means in terms of the Internet but it does give us insight into the trends that emerge across the net. The three Internet memes above represent three typical varieties that are commonly used and found across the Internet. An advanced understanding of Internet memes allow individuals to communicate through them to convey emotions, stories, and more.
Internet memes are also distinct from other trends because there is a aura of permanence that surrounds the Internet. The Internet is this strange realm that defies common sense. The idea that what goes up must come down doesn't apply to the Internet. Once something is uploaded it may never come down. Beyoncé learned this lesson the hard way after her performance at the 2013 Super Bowl which spawned this picture.
(link to the story about Beyonce's meme)When her publicist requested BuzzFeed take down the unflattering photos the result was almost entirely the opposite. The photos of Beyoncé trended and spread across the Internet spawning dozens of hilarious memes.
Previously, the Internet meme was admonished as a strange, unimportant, or even ethereal component of the Internet. But this has never been true because memes by their definition are societal trends, and while these trends may change they always exist in some capacity. These days Internet memes seem like an integral part of our digital culture as they are the creations of the Internet as a community. Memes that are relatable, funny, or that draw from real life become popular as dictated by the millions of users on the Internet.
P.S. - great sites to find memes imgur.com, cheezburger.com and knowyourmeme.com.
Hi Nish - I enjoyed reading your post. What I found most interesting about the idea of an Internet meme is how social media and technology has basically created its own culture. This culture transcends national and ethnic boundaries, incorporating a wide variety of people. They all speak a common language and are able to express their thoughts both through words and with witty memes. None of this would have been possible without the Internet. How do you think our culture has changed because of the Internet?
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