This form of expression has grown rapidly and organically on the Internet. After all, what is meme? Known for creating jokes on the network, the concept is much deeper and had origins well before the digital age. See below for the definitions and evolution of this contemporary form of expression.
The origin of the meme
To facilitate understanding, it is necessary to explain two concepts that are directly linked to the meme as we know it today, one of educational route and the other of cultural behavior.
Mnemonic Technique
It is an auxiliary memory technique, which can be used to save formulas, using the initials of words, among other modes. The modality that matters to describe today’s memes is pictorial, where images pass a concept, feeling, meaning.
Before the digital age
Created by biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976, the concept of meme is defined by him as:
“Memes (discrete units of knowledge, gossip, jokes and so on) are for the culture what genes are for life. Just as biological evolution is driven by the survival of the fittest genes in the genetic pool, cultural evolution can be driven by the most successful memes.”
What are the memes on the internet
Reinforced with the idea of a memorization technique that contains cultural symbols, ideas, they work by transmitting a universal concept that can be interpreted locally. With the help of the Internet reached the global levels of communication.
How Memes work
A meme is an image transmitted to viralize on the internet, complemented with text, sharing specific comments about cultural symbols, social ideas or current events.
It is usually a photo or video, although it can be a block of text. When it reaches many people, it spreads through social platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, text messages, among others. The more a meme is spread, the greater the cultural influence it has.
Some may last for a while because they represent something timeless that still seems like true to people, like parenthood. Other memes are specific to an event or idea and tend to disappear after a period.
Read: 12 Best Meme generator apps for Android and iOS.
Why use memes?
Memes are a worldwide social phenomenon. The more it resoanes in people, the more they share it and the message spreads. Memes are usually funny, but often this humor is injected with ironic political or social commentary.
It is the new form of communication or protest that reaches the largest number of people organically. Companies are already using the technique to spread a brand or campaign concept, using the social phenomenon for advertising purposes.
Now that you know what a meme is, how about you start making yours and expressing your ideas on the Internet? Good fun.
Sources: Lifewire, Merriam-Webster, Sproutsocial.
