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This was a "viral video", but was it a "meme"?
A "viral video" is practically the definition of a meme.
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Yes, it's literally in the definition. Even ideas are memes.
A meme is to culture what a gene is to biology.
So, you completely accept that definition of a meme?
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So, would you agree that viral videos are memes? I wouldn't.
I wouldn't say that viral videos are memes, they are viral videos. But their content can become a meme, which could be a quote from it or some kind of content shown in a different context.
E.g. the Area51 Naruto runner is a meme, but the report where he appears is not.
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A "viral video" is practically the definition of a meme.
According to which definition?
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It's strange how no matter when someone was born, the best period in world history is the one when they happened to be kids.
Call me a boomer but I feel kids growing up now are missing something that those of us who grew up before TikTok had.
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According to which definition?
wrote on last edited by [email protected]A meme (/miːm/ ⓘ; MEEM)[1][2][3] is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular phenomenon or theme.[4] A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices, that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.[5]
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So, you completely accept that definition of a meme?
What are you talking about, my dude?
The definition of the term "meme" was given by Richard Dawkins in 1972. That's what the word means.
What's your point?
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Call me a boomer but I feel kids growing up now are missing something that those of us who grew up before TikTok had.
They're missing a lot of things, especially including having a childhood where your mistakes weren't forever preserved online.
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A meme (/miːm/ ⓘ; MEEM)[1][2][3] is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular phenomenon or theme.[4] A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices, that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.[5]
That's the Dawkins version of a meme, not an Internet meme. An internet meme is typically defined differently:
By some definitions some viral videos would count, if they're viral because they're funny. By those definitions, if they're viral because they're critical news like the George Floyd murder, they're not memes because they're not humorous.
Personally, I don't think it's an internet meme unless:
- It's intended to be funny or at least wryly amusing. So, serious news items or shocking things don't count.
- It is remixed. A funny viral video isn't a meme until people start remixing it.
What made image macros into internet memes was people taking the same macro and using different text. Otherwise it's just a viral item of internet context.
My definition is not necessarily "right", but I like it.
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What are you talking about, my dude?
The definition of the term "meme" was given by Richard Dawkins in 1972. That's what the word means.
What's your point?
Definitions change. Dawkins didn't define an "internet meme". People who were spreading certain kinds of viral content on the Internet found Dawkins' word and adapted it to match the things they were doing.
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Definitions change. Dawkins didn't define an "internet meme". People who were spreading certain kinds of viral content on the Internet found Dawkins' word and adapted it to match the things they were doing.
An "Internet meme" falls smack in the middle of Dawkins' definition. I really have no clue what your point is.
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That's the Dawkins version of a meme, not an Internet meme. An internet meme is typically defined differently:
By some definitions some viral videos would count, if they're viral because they're funny. By those definitions, if they're viral because they're critical news like the George Floyd murder, they're not memes because they're not humorous.
Personally, I don't think it's an internet meme unless:
- It's intended to be funny or at least wryly amusing. So, serious news items or shocking things don't count.
- It is remixed. A funny viral video isn't a meme until people start remixing it.
What made image macros into internet memes was people taking the same macro and using different text. Otherwise it's just a viral item of internet context.
My definition is not necessarily "right", but I like it.
All three definitions you provided are well within Dawkins' definition.
By some definitions some viral videos would count, if they’re viral because they’re funny. By those definitions, if they’re viral because they’re critical news like the George Floyd murder, they’re not memes because they’re not humorous.
The reason for their spread is irrelevant. The fact that it's "a piece of culture that is spreading" is what makes it a meme.
What made image macros into internet memes was people taking the same macro and using different text
Again, this is well within the definition of "meme".
My definition is not necessarily “right”, but I like it.
You're arguing that "Internet meme" should be it's own thing, when it fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of "meme".
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An "Internet meme" falls smack in the middle of Dawkins' definition. I really have no clue what your point is.
Smack in the middle, but the definition is narrower.
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All three definitions you provided are well within Dawkins' definition.
By some definitions some viral videos would count, if they’re viral because they’re funny. By those definitions, if they’re viral because they’re critical news like the George Floyd murder, they’re not memes because they’re not humorous.
The reason for their spread is irrelevant. The fact that it's "a piece of culture that is spreading" is what makes it a meme.
What made image macros into internet memes was people taking the same macro and using different text
Again, this is well within the definition of "meme".
My definition is not necessarily “right”, but I like it.
You're arguing that "Internet meme" should be it's own thing, when it fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of "meme".
You're arguing that "Internet meme" should be it's own thing, when it fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of "meme".
Yes, just like "motorcycle" fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of "vehicle" but it's still useful to have a more specific term.
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You're arguing that "Internet meme" should be it's own thing, when it fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of "meme".
Yes, just like "motorcycle" fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of "vehicle" but it's still useful to have a more specific term.
But there already is a "more specific term" - "internet meme". It's a meme that (mostly) originates/spreads over the Internet. Job done.
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Smack in the middle, but the definition is narrower.
Elaborate?
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But there already is a "more specific term" - "internet meme". It's a meme that (mostly) originates/spreads over the Internet. Job done.
That's my point, that's not a good definition of an Internet Meme.
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That's my point, that's not a good definition of an Internet Meme.
I'm so confused... It's like you wanted a separate definition of "internet news article" because these often have click-bait titles, unlike (most) TV or newspaper articles.
It's the same thing. Just the medium is different.
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I'm so confused... It's like you wanted a separate definition of "internet news article" because these often have click-bait titles, unlike (most) TV or newspaper articles.
It's the same thing. Just the medium is different.
It's not the same thing, it's not just the medium that's different. That's my whole point.
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It's not the same thing, it's not just the medium that's different. That's my whole point.
You keep saying that, but you haven't explained the difference yet.
