What makes a meme?

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Matt²

So in the past we've had many recurring memes, some I've contributed to (GRUE!) and many others I / others on this forum had nothing to do with (double double rainbow, across the sky!), rickrolls, this is Sparta, etc etc

But what is it that MAKES a meme?

Is it just a catchy tune, phrase, animated gif, or is there a deeper "meme-ing" to them?

Also, name some of your favorite or more memorable memes
 
Null

Null

I think the main factors in creating a meme are memorability, repeatability, adaptability, and most important of all, stupidity.
 
CynicismKills

CynicismKills

Null said:
I think the main factors in creating a meme are memorability, repeatability, adaptability, and most important of all, stupidity.
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I'd say this pretty much covers it.

I've always been partial to the Courage Wolf / Bachelor Frog / Awkward Penguin variations myself.
 
Fun Size

Fun Size

Well, Matt, when a mommy meme and a daddy meme love each other very much, and the mommy meme has maybe been drinking a little bit, then they get together and...well, there's some birds and been involved and maybe a leather mask and...you know, he does the thing with his stuff and...

Dammit dude, ask you parents this stuff.
 
MindDetective

MindDetective

Memes are a social contagion. They result from rapid, broad filtration through our social network and differ only from something like a joke e-mail in that they mutate and are re-expressed as they spread. They can't change so fast as to become unrecognizable, however, and they appear to have a short half life that might be dependent on the size of the social network. In a lots of ways they really are like viruses but they mutate more quickly and consist of information, rather than biological material.

I know, I didn't really say anything that people probably don't already know, at least intuitively. But I am fascinated by networks and wanted to see if I could at least wrap my head around the question within the framework of social networks.
 
Cajungal

Cajungal

Staff member
It all starts when Betty White calls Chuck Norris for a booty call. Nine months later, she gives birth to a litter of memes. She soon shoos them away from her nest and they scurry away to the internet. Those who are not eaten by large seabirds become memes.
 
AshburnerX

AshburnerX

mr_thehun;440741][QUOTE=MindDetective said:
Memes are a social contagion. They result from rapid, broad filtration through our social network and differ only from something like a joke e-mail in that they mutate and are re-expressed as they spread. They can't change so fast as to become unrecognizable, however, and they appear to have a short half life that might be dependent on the size of the social network. In a lots of ways they really are like viruses but they mutate more quickly and consist of information, rather than biological material.

I know, I didn't really say anything that people probably don't already know, at least intuitively. But I am fascinated by networks and wanted to see if I could at least wrap my head around the question within the framework of social networks.
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Theres a psych/anthro/evolution lab at UBC that studies how Memes pass through social networks. It's really interesting research that I'm happy to say I had the opportunity to work with.

you can read more about it at Faculty Profile | UBC Psychology Department | University of British Columbia | Canada[/QUOTE]

I'd also recommend going out and playing Metal Gear Solid 2 (play MGS1 first if you haven't), if you want a more hands on approach to understanding memes. It's actually become coursework in many Meme related courses, as a case study on how they work and can be manipulated. After going back and looking at the game from that point of view, I actually began to understand just how masterful and intelligent Hideo Kojima actually is... and just how much of a fucking troll he is.
 
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