Memes are just the newest iteration of establishing shared ideals and interests and are also a way to establish in-group status. For example, if I posted a meme that says something like, “TFW Anos Voldigoad enters into a zect.” onto an anime board; I manage to establish both an interest and in-group status to people that I have never met and will likely never meet. Memes are the inevitable result of people desiring to have in-group status and sharing their interests in the age of the internet. Sometimes, a picture, even a silly meme, really is worth a thousand words.
The disconnect for me happened when memes started being made for the masses and I don’t mean that in a “I liked them before they got popular!” way. I mean when they changed from being in-jokes to attempts at virality.
Does that make sense? Genuinely asking because I don’t know how exactly to phrase what I mean. Like a meme made for your group chat is an in-joke and one made “for the public” is…content. I’m not asking anyone to agree with me but I’m hoping my point is understood
[Edit] fixed autocorrect changing virality to vitality
Tbh, I’m not quite sure what you mean by, “attempts at vitality.” Unless, that’s a typo and you meant popularity. If that’s the case, then I suppose I understand even if I don’t necessarily agree that that’s the purpose of memes in general.
Autocorrect got me! I meant virality. Like they’re being made for the upvotes. To become viral and be seen by as many people as possible or to be monetized by a meme account on Instagram.
Alternative and in the same vein, people rush to make the obvious joke… Not because it’s a good joke or even one that has to be told. Just because they want to be the first one to say it
Memes are just the newest iteration of establishing shared ideals and interests and are also a way to establish in-group status. For example, if I posted a meme that says something like, “TFW Anos Voldigoad enters into a zect.” onto an anime board; I manage to establish both an interest and in-group status to people that I have never met and will likely never meet. Memes are the inevitable result of people desiring to have in-group status and sharing their interests in the age of the internet. Sometimes, a picture, even a silly meme, really is worth a thousand words.
The disconnect for me happened when memes started being made for the masses and I don’t mean that in a “I liked them before they got popular!” way. I mean when they changed from being in-jokes to attempts at virality.
Does that make sense? Genuinely asking because I don’t know how exactly to phrase what I mean. Like a meme made for your group chat is an in-joke and one made “for the public” is…content. I’m not asking anyone to agree with me but I’m hoping my point is understood
[Edit] fixed autocorrect changing virality to vitality
Tbh, I’m not quite sure what you mean by, “attempts at vitality.” Unless, that’s a typo and you meant popularity. If that’s the case, then I suppose I understand even if I don’t necessarily agree that that’s the purpose of memes in general.
Autocorrect got me! I meant virality. Like they’re being made for the upvotes. To become viral and be seen by as many people as possible or to be monetized by a meme account on Instagram.
Alternative and in the same vein, people rush to make the obvious joke… Not because it’s a good joke or even one that has to be told. Just because they want to be the first one to say it