When Did Memes Become a Thing?

Six years of college and I had to google what a meme is. Why’s that? If it’s so important; why didn’t I learn what it was in geometry or algebra class where all the vitally important stuff went on? Up to this very moment I’ve been leading my life in complete ignorance of memes and I have to apologize for that. But in my defense, no teacher or professor ever mentioned memes even when they were punishing people for not being able to rattle off the conjugation of French and Spanish verbs. It’s frightening that I’ve gotten this far without knowing what a meme is and yet the word itself doesn’t bring tears to my eyes. In fact there’s a growing irritation in my throat area that makes me think I could throw up. But who cares? I could call my vomitus a meme, and then I’d be fine. Right?

And another thing, if memes are just the tip of the blogging iceberg (so to speak) what’s next? Memes that take the place of emails? Memes that are term papers? Memes that are dissertations? But I guess people have already written about memes for dissertations. Yes, they have and by the bucketful!

For example, in 2017 a University of York English graduate debuted the very first doctoral theseis on memes. He gained a top grade for his trailblazing dissertation on the social media phenomenon of ‘memes.

Julian Porch’s 8,000-word dissertation, which was awarded a First, takes stock of where we are with memes today and how we got there. It also analyses memes as a form of political discourse, and explores how they push the boundaries of how people communicate and create comedy. Very interesting, wouldn’t you say?

So, Julian, if you’re such an expert on memes that you managed to get your doctoral degree by writing an 8,000-word dissertation, why haven’t I heard about you before today? And what exactly is the difference between a cartoon,, a GIF and a meme? I wonder what Julian is doing today. Re-inventing the wheel. Trying to sell a book on memes? What? I’m almost afraid to google him and find out. I could be risking disappointment so I’ll wait for another opportunity.

Remember that was in 2017. I would expect that if the subject of memes has suddenly gone academic that there would be a lot more listed. Let’s see :now: I don’t want to bore you but there’s at least a thousand academic/journal articles about memes cited on scholar.google. The subjects vary from culture, humor discourse, and discursive power to articulation of values, weaponized iconoclasm and suicide. Yes suicide, and I don’t think they mean people like you and me who are sick of hearing the word meme and might actually, possibly, maybe commit it……

Memes are truly fascinating, it would seem, not only to the everyday jerk who’s spent all his after school and weekend hours on social media, but also to the doctoral candidate groping for a unique topic upon which to write a paper that will never be read by human beings but will guarantee him/her a doctoral degree.

I may never use a meme again.

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