literature

Comprehending the Meme

Deviation Actions

SouthernImagineer's avatar
Published:
98 Views

Literature Text

Comprehending the Meme

To limit the definition of a meme as "an image, video, phrase, etc. that is passed electronically from one Internet user to another" is an atrocious, unacceptable mistake. A meme cannot honestly be defined with a single sentence; its gravity and impact on a society's culture requires paragraph upon paragraph to illustrate. There are several varying branches of memes, as well, all with their own unique characteristics and repercussions, so attempting to umbrella them beneath a sole description is like trying to distinct a beagle from a golden retriever when only using the definition of a "dog."

In the simplest of terms, memes are, in fact, images, videos, phrases, websites, hyperlinks, words, etc. that spread around the Internet. But, in a sense, the definition is poor, because it does not specify that memes are living, breathing things. Memes grow, evolve, and reach new levels of popularity as they soar through the World Wide Web. They take on new forms; they gain new qualities and advancements. Sure, they exist within the Internet, but that does not mean they are restricted to it.

A certain type of meme usually grows from some social event or rare occurrence. For example, when Rebecca Black debuted her notorious music video, "Friday," not only was everyone humming the tune, but the song also brought along a meme of its own to life. "Friday" became one of these cultivated ideas, one of these concepts that passed through the Internet like wildfire (even if the song is irritating).

Another example of a meme breeds from certain situations that people find themselves in, ones that vex them or seem to happen at the worst of times. For example, perhaps one day, you were unpleasantly awoken from a beautiful slumber at three in the morning by birds chirping outside your window. You shoot up in bed, furiously groaning, wondering why birds are not asleep at three o'clock. This exasperating yet humorous realization could turn into a meme—it has, in fact, become a member of the "Y U NO Guy" meme lineage (To quote the meme itself, "BIRDS, Y U NO ASLEEP AT THREE IN THE MORNING?"). The situation is now accompanied by this unsightly character, but with the presence of the character comes a firm understanding of the meme.

Memes are intricate. They are humorous, creative ways of displaying confusion, excitement, comedy, and even the truth. They bring smiles to those who stumble upon them, laughter from those who can relate. They have flooded our society; you cannot go a day without seeing or hearing a reference to one. And, as said previously, they grow. Whether the memes today exist in the future or not, there will always be the children of those memes, evolutionary descendants of them, and society will always be fascinated by them… because they are fascinating.
A description essay I had to write for my Creative Writing class! Not my best work, but it's not bad, either.
© 2012 - 2024 SouthernImagineer
Comments2
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
primenatorgirl217's avatar