A brief history of memes | BBC Ideas

Summary

The speaker reflects on the evolution of internet memes as a cultural phenomenon and their power to communicate complex ideas beyond language barriers. They discuss the concept of memes as units of culture that spread and evolve, drawing parallels to Richard Dawkins' theory of memes as self-replicating cultural units. The narrative also touches on the ironic and critical nature of memes, their role in advertising and design, and the idea that memes may be using humans for their own propagation, much like genes in biology.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Memes are cultural units that evolve and spread like genes, as described by Richard Dawkins.
• 😅 The term 'internet meme' is often misunderstood to be the only kind of meme, overshadowing the broader concept.
• 📈 Memes can convey complex ideas and emotions more efficiently than simple sentences.
• 🤝 Brands that participate in meme culture are seen as being in tune with the modern, ironic zeitgeist.
• 📱 The speaker communicates frequently using memes, highlighting their prevalence in digital communication.
• 😌 Memes can express a wide range of attitudes, including disdain, disappointment, and distrust.
• 🌟 Successful memes are those that capture attention and resonate with a large audience.
• 🔄 The process of meme evolution mirrors natural selection, with most ideas not surviving while a few become widespread.
• 🎨 The best advertising and design aim to create cultural artifacts or 'memes' that people identify with and share.
• 🤔 The concept of 'selfish replicators' suggests that memes use humans as a medium to propagate themselves.
• 🔄 A personal anecdote illustrates how a meme can quickly gain traction and become a viral phenomenon.

Q & A

What is the speaker's initial reaction to the term 'internet meme'?

The speaker was initially annoyed because people seemed to think that 'internet meme' was the only kind of meme, overlooking the broader concept of memes in culture.

How does the speaker view the evolution of cultural units?

The speaker finds the evolution of cultural units, or memes, to be super interesting as they are discrete units that exist and evolve around us all the time.

Why does the speaker believe brands might have a problem with their activities?

The speaker initially thought brands would be upset because of their involvement with memes, but realized that brands are part of the joke and understand the importance of being involved in the meme culture.

In what way does the speaker use memes to communicate?

The speaker communicates by sending memes, which can convey more meaning than a single sentence in certain situations.

What is the speaker's definition of a meme?

The speaker defines a meme as a written joke related to something happening in real life that can express various attitudes, including disdain, disappointment, or a lack of trust.

How does the speaker relate memes to the concept of a replicator?

The speaker relates memes to the concept of a replicator by explaining that memes are units of culture that spread from person to person, evolving as they are passed along, similar to how genes replicate with variation and selection.

What is the connection between memes and the idea presented in 'The Selfish Gene'?

The connection is that memes, like genes, are selfish replicators that spread and evolve. The speaker was inspired by Richard Dawkins' idea that religion could be considered the ultimate meme due to its infectious and evolutionary nature.

How does the speaker describe the process of meme selection?

The speaker describes the process of meme selection as competitive, where most memes are forgotten or ignored, but the few that capture widespread attention become prominent in our culture.

What example does the speaker give of a meme that gained significant attention?

The speaker gives the example of a meme featuring Celine Dion with a Dior bag, which they edited to look like a luxury item. After posting it, it gained attention when Dior reposted it, leading to a surge in popularity.

How does the speaker view the role of memes in advertising and design?

The speaker views memes as synonymous with creating bits of culture, and believes that the best advertising and design involve creating memetic content that resonates with people and becomes part of the cultural landscape.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'memes are selfish'?

The speaker means that memes, like genes, will get copied and spread whenever they can, using people as a medium to propagate themselves, suggesting that our role is not to control them but rather to be part of their propagation process.