For those that aren’t familiar with the term “meme” here’s your primer:
The term “Internet meme” refers to a catchphrase or concept that spreads rapidly from person to person via the Internet, largely through Internet-based email, blogs, forums, Internet-based social networking sites and Internet-based instant messaging.
The term derives from the original concept of memes, although it has come to refer to a much more narrowly defined category of cultural information. Examples include Rickrolling, lolcats, “Leave Britney Alone”, Keyboard Cat, and “All your base are belong to us”.
Most simply understood, an internet meme is something that is wildly popular. There is no rhyme nor reason to what makes these things popular but the use of social media and social networking is the driving force behind the amazing growth and exposure.
What’s fascinating is that there is somewhat of a pattern, and although the following video about the History of Auto Tune” is somewhat satirical in nature, it’s information can be found as true:
The path of internet phenoms goes like this:
- Introduction
- Overexposure
- Parody and Remix
- Equilibrium
Makes sense right? You’ve seen it happen a bunch of times. Things get wildly popular then even more popular and the darn thing is “everywhere” and then come the satire and remixes, and then it drops off the grid.
What fascinates me the most though are the memes which seem to continually persist in popularity way beyond their apparent initial digital shelf life; they become much more. They become more than a cultural flash in the pan and actually change the way we view things.
We, as a people, should be used to that idea. I find it somewhat depressing that we haven’t been very good at it from an online perspective; everything we do is mediocre, at best.
What’s it going to be? What needs to change? Do we have spiritual memes to continue pumping life into? Or are we just wasting our time?
dannyjbixby says
Haters will always hate. 🙂
I don't know if I was just blinded by the awesomeness of Weird Al…but I don't think I understood what you were asking here at the end with "What’s it going to be? What needs to change? Do we have spiritual memes to continue pumping life into? Or are we just wasting our time?"
What would serve as an example of spiritual meme to you?
human3rror says
i'm not sure there are any good ones for examples… but i think when there's a meme about someone's death… that's a good thing for people to think about.
stephenbateman says
That video was pretty great. It's funny how right they are about the internet Meme phenomenon.