The Meme-oir: A Humorous Journey Through the World of Memes

By Daipayan Chakraborty (MBA 21-23)

Welcome to the world of memes, a place where absurdity reigns supreme and the only thing you can count on is that tomorrow there will be a new meme to make you laugh (or at least roll your eyes).

But where did these wacky internet phenomena come from? The history of memes dates back to the ancient Greeks, who used the term "mimeme" to describe "something imitated." Fast forward a few thousand years, and the word "meme" was coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene." In it, he described memes as a unit of cultural transmission, much like genes transmit biological information.

But it wasn't until the rise of the internet and social media that memes really took off. The first true internet meme is widely considered to be the "Dancing Baby," a 3D animation of a baby dancing that became a viral hit in the mid-90s.

Since then, memes have evolved and diversified at an alarming rate. There are memes for every occasion and every interest, from political memes to cat memes to gaming memes. And let's not forget about the ever-popular "distracted boyfriend" meme, which has been used to comment on everything from relationships to the 2020 U.S. Presidential Elections.

But with the proliferation of memes, comes the risk of oversaturation. Every day there's a new meme flooding our feeds, and it can be hard to keep up. And don't even get me started on the proliferation of "dank" memes that try a little too hard to be edgy and cool. But despite the overwhelming number of memes out there, we can't help but keep coming back for more. It could be because memes provide a quick and easy way to connect with others and share our thoughts and feelings. Or maybe it's because they're just really, really funny.

So what makes a good meme? That's a tough question because what one person finds hilarious might not be the same for another. But some common elements of successful memes include absurdity, relatable content, and a touch of absurdity (yes, I said absurdity twice because it's that important, very, very important).

But memes aren't just for giggles – they can also be used to make a statement or spark important conversations. The "Black Lives Matter" and "Me Too" movements have been supported by powerful memes that helped raise awareness and inspire change.

So the next time you come across a meme that speaks to you (and let's face it, it's probably going to be soon, or by the time you are reading this, it probably already has), take a moment to appreciate the history and evolution of this quirky cultural phenomenon. And then share it with all your friends because that's what memes are all about.

But be warned – memes can be addictive. One minute you're scrolling through your feed and laughing at a picture of a dog with a caption that perfectly sums up your Monday morning struggles, and the next thing you know, it's 3 am and you're deep in the meme rabbit hole wondering how you got there and why you're still laughing.

So, you've made it this far and are still unsure what to make of this whole 'meme' thing. That's okay, I don't blame you. But here's the bottom line: memes are like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’ll get. Except in this case, it's always a picture of a dog with a caption that perfectly sums up your Monday morning struggles, and let's not forget the endless scrolling and procrastination! At least you're having fun!!

So embrace your inner meme-er and join the ranks of internet meme enthusiasts, but don't blame me if you end up flunking your final exams because you spent all night trying to come up with the next 'distracted boyfriend' meme, now that's truly dank."