Most of what is unusual about man can be summed up in one word: "culture". I use the word not in its snobbish sense, but as a scientist uses it. Cultural transmission is analogous to genetic transmission in that, although basically conservative, it can give rise to a form of evolution.
Sociology notwithstanding, on the Internet
, a "meme"
(pronounced "meem") is usually described as a catchy derivative of some aspect of pop culture, parodied
and repeated over and over. If not used carefully
, it can get to the point that its origins and original meaning become muddled and completely mutilated beyond any point of recognition or humor
. It can even be Wrongfully Attributed
. It's essentially a cross between a catchphrase and an inside joke.
Which means we don't want themnote
in TV Tropes articles. Because we are not interested in being muddled, dated, and beyond humor.
being what it is, this also applies to characters. The Internet
is liable to spread a "meme" version of a character which is totally (sometimes deliberately) at odds with the original depiction, such as a cheerful version of a dark or scary character, a sexy version of a character featured in a Jekyll & Hyde
episode, or an unlucky-yet-annoyingly-optimistic version of a normally depressed, tragic character
Another quirk of memes depends on where they're initially propagated. Memes often spread regardless of content, taste, or sensibilities, while the original source may be the only ones who know enough about the source material to use it ironically. As well, some memes reference something common, but become catchy enough to be associated with only a single new thing
Depending on how strongly the production company is tied with fandom
, sometimes a meme can escape the internet and get referenced in the medium it parodied through Bonus Material
or Popularity Power
. When this is the case you get an Ascended Meme
. Some forgotten or Discredited Memes
are even resurrected thanks to the Popularity Polynomial
Note that while this article refers to internet-based
memes, the phenomenon is not just limited to the internet
. It can be an instance of The Catch Phrase Catches On
, which is when a phrase or saying from fiction becomes popular as an expression used in Real Life
. However, certain memes are only popular to a certain group.
For in-universe examples, see Instant Web Hit
If you'd like to keep up with the memes of the day, go to Know Your Meme
, or The LURKMORE Wiki
), or the fine folks at Encyclopedia Dramatica
(even more NSFW). These are all examples of great resources for the memes themselves and the enigmatic culture around them, but beware the interstitials. You Have Been Warned
. On the other hand, if you just want to learn who starts many of these, see Fountain of Memes
. These are probably the most common source of Surreal Humor
The Trope Namer
(for the word meme
) is Richard Dawkins
, who suggested a Mind Virus
-like model of society: that cultural information is inherited and reproduced, occasionally with minor mutations, in a similar way to genetic
When adding to one of the subpages, please write the meme, then add the explanation of the meme inside a labelnote
titled "Explanation." Explanation
Memes by Medium
Specific Types of Memes, Tropes Related to Memes, and Specific Memes With Their Own Page