Reflection of the week: The Evolution of MEMES!

The “Pre-Meme” Era (1990 – 1999)

Godwin’s Law (1990)

Godwin's Law states that:

“As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Hitler approaches 1.”

This basically means that the longer any conversation on the internet continues, the likelihood of someone mentioning Adolf Hitler or Nazis increases – and this person “loses” the discussion.

All Your Base Are Belong To Us (1992)

Zero Wing (Japanese arcade game) translation error. Should be “With the cooperation of Federation Forces, CATS have taken over all of your bases” but instead it goes “CATS: ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US”.

Ooga Chaka Baby (1996)

“Ooga Chaka Baby” is the original dancing baby – a 3D rendered animation that became the first viral internet meme in 1996. Gained popularity through email chains. Dancing to intro to “Hooked on a Feeling” – Blue Swede. Released as a product sample source file in “Character Studio”.

Hamster Dance (1998)

“Hamster Dance” is one of the earliest single-purpose websites. Created in 1998 by Canadian art student Deidre LeCarte. Features rows of animated GIFs of hamsters and other small rodents dancing to a sped-up sample of Roger Miller’s “Whistle Stop”. Got popular in March 1999 and got over 17 million views by that summer.

Early 2000s Memes (2000-2005)

The Dancing Banana (2001 - 2002)

In 2001, Trym Stene creates the Dancing Banana emoticon as a GIF. In 2002, Ryan Gancenia Etrata and Kevin Flynn make the emoticon into a flash animation (see this video) which then spreads across the Web via message boards. (Background music is by The Buckwheat Boyz).

Demotivational Posters

Late 2000s Memes (2005-2009)

YOUTUBE BECOMES A BIG THING! (2006)

• Charlie bit my finger – again !
• Numa Numa
• THE NEW LLAMA SONG !!!!!
• The Kitty Cat Dance
• Charlie the Unicorn
• David After Dentist

Pepe (2008)

Created by American artist and cartoonist Matt Furie in 2005 – in his comic Boy’s Club #1. Pepe is seen urinating with his pants pulled down to his ankles and the catchphrase “feels good man” was his rationale.

KERMIT THE FROG MEMES!!!!

CLICK HERE

OR HERE

As long as the trolls are still trolling, the Rick will never stop rolling.

Note: As interesting and fun as this reflection was to create, I realised that I had more important things to do (like attempt to read The Medium is the Message) and so I will stop the memes here. I will, however, hopefully be able to finish this list as the term goes on :D!