Rick Rollin’

A meme spreads rapidly like a virus,knowing the qualities of those interested in pursuing this spread. Typically a hyper, detail surfer, who will be on to the next new thing before the digital clock on their phone moves onto the next minute. You might have already guessed “memes” are not my thing.

Richard Dawkins an evolutionary biologist coined the phrase in his book “The Selfish Gene” way back in 1976. He describes it as “a unit of cultural transmission”. Perhaps culture is a mite too fancy for the average meme. Which tries to reduce the human pscyche to it’s most basic building blocks.

Observational Comics must either love or hate them. The hyper comics need to be in with the “crowd” know the latest meme that is trending among the demographics they are trying to please. Yes, I can see it being a love or hate relationship, reducing a three minute , carefully thought out monologue into a cartoon or gif which says the same thing visually and very often for free.

Does this explain the demise of the fondess for observational comedy? Discuss in your own time, I haven’t finished my rant on memes.

The really trendy memes are more concise than my AI generated image, I cannot see the above generating lots of likes and re-blogs and shares.

No the real diamond memes are light-hearted and sum up an element of common culture which in it’s own time ( most likely the late ninteties) was ground breakingly popular.

Enter Rick Astley, his song “Never Gonna Give You Up” is the hook to arguably the most popular meme in the history of the Internet. The meme itself tricks users into watching the music video for the song. Clever eh? Harmless I suppose. Fun yes. And rightly so , for the generations who remember Rick, possibly even those who take an interest in Rick because they were introduced to him by the Meme, it introduces them to a wonderful musician and his music.

The dark side of Memes exists too, if you can be tricked into listening to Rick, what else can you be tricked into doing or believing. The problem is not being on trend and wanting to be. I’ve just googled “harmful memes” and it is a thing.

Bless google and bless AI it suggests the following to avoid harmful memes.

Is this meme making fun of someone’s looks , race or beliefs?

Does this make me feel angry or upset about a group of people?

Is this joke based on an unfair, sweeping rule?

The word “joke” is interesting, so memes are meant to be funny, Comics must hate them. In an audience maybe of up to five hundred people will many of them walk out of the theatre seriously damaged by what they have just heard? The audience can complain or give feedback.

Ramp that up to Internet access to the World of Social Media and I- pad parenting , is it possible that a meme can turn into a dangerous trope with no comeback whatsoever. I think so.

Which is why , the word meme is a word and “thing” I will always be wary of and I wish more people could see through it’s instant gratification.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading. 🙏