A meme is a hurricane of influence. It finds a human host, a signal booster, who spreads the meme before it takes on a life of its own.
Historically, words are the simplest of memes, necessitating a language of thought. But most memes today are visual concepts manifested in viral images shared on social media.
These images might be misunderstood — birthed from snarky Redditors before they become part of the online zeitgeist. The most transmissible, like human genes, are the ones that reproduce.
Memes, like any mimetic behavior, are less essential for thought. These contagious representations celebrate culture but bankrupt it too. Here, the adage rings true: images speak louder than words.
Reveling in the same memes standardizes how we dance, which is usually unique and personal. The psychological elements of herd mentality create a flurry of uncreative behavior.
The hive mind synchronizes with a remixed version of the internet’s infinite archives until originality loses its course. What’s viral rarely retains or sustains.
Memes offer a special kind of amassed perception, a snapshot of culture, without supplying something vital in return. We want to pursue things that are different and extend our learning. For that, we deviate toward what is radical and what is possible.