“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived, and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.” – John F. Kennedy1 The “let’s go meme” has swept the internet, winning hearts with its fun and adaptability. It started with a viral video on BuzzFeed and quickly spread to many social media sites. Now, it’s a key part of internet culture, bringing people together online2.
From Hulu’s Onyx Collective to Twitter, the meme has grown far beyond its start. It’s now a common way to connect with others online3. As we look into its beginnings and growth, we’ll see how it shapes internet culture and connects us all.
Key Takeaways
- The “let’s go meme” has become a viral phenomenon, captivating audiences worldwide.
- It has evolved from a BuzzFeed video to become a ubiquitous part of digital vernacular.
- The meme has been widely adopted and adapted across various social media platforms.
- It has become a symbol of internet culture and a unifying force for online communities.
- Exploring the origins and evolution of the “let’s go meme” will provide insights into internet culture.
Demystifying the World of Internet Memes
What is a Meme?
A meme is an idea or style that spreads from person to person. It was first used by British biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976. He got the word from the Greek “mimeme,” meaning “to imitate.”4
Memes carry cultural ideas and symbols. They can spread through writing, speech, and gestures. The “let’s go meme” is a great example, spreading widely online and becoming part of our digital language4.
By understanding memes, we see how the “let’s go meme” impacts internet culture. It shows the power of memes in shaping our online world.
Experts like Susan Blackmore and Daniel Dennett have helped grow the field of memetics4. But, others like Stephen Jay Gould and Dan Sperber have also shared their views4.
The idea of memetics started in the 1980s. Books like “The Selfish Gene” by Dawkins and “Consciousness Explained” by Dennett helped it grow4. Douglas Rushkoff’s “Media Virus” in 1995 really launched memetics into the mainstream4.
The word “meme” comes from Ancient Greek, meaning “imitator.”4 Richard Semon’s work on “mneme” in 1904 also shaped the concept4.
In the 1990s, Dawkins’ essay “Viruses of the Mind” and Stephenson’s “Snow Crash” made memes more popular5. Books like “Unleashing the Ideavirus” by Seth Godin and “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell also fueled interest5.
Today, memes are a big way for millennials in North America to express themselves6. They are often funny and spread fast, influencing our culture6.
There are memes for different groups, like queer and disabled communities6. White people memes use satire to challenge society, giving a voice to marginalized groups6.
Key Milestones in Meme Evolution | Year |
---|---|
The term “meme” was coined by Richard Dawkins | 1976 |
Dawkins’ influential essay “Viruses of the Mind” | 1991 |
Dawkins’ paper presented at a conference | 1991 |
Neil Stephenson’s novel “Snow Crash” | 1992 |
“Unleashing the Ideavirus” book released | 2001 |
Gladwell’s book “The Tipping Point” | 2000 |
“Memes are a primary mode of social expression for North American millennials.”
The Anatomy of a Viral Meme
The “let’s go meme” has become a hit worldwide, starting from a simple BuzzFeed video7. It has catchy phrases and humor that people can relate to. This makes it easy to share and recreate, showing what makes a meme go viral. By looking at the “let’s go meme,” we learn a lot about meme culture and how it brings people together online.
The meme taps into the current humor and slang of the internet. Its catchphrase, “let’s go,” connects with people, making them feel part of something big7. It’s also very flexible, fitting into many different memes and trends on social media.
Viral Meme Characteristics | Examples |
---|---|
Catchy Phrase | “Let’s go!” |
Relatable Humor | Expressing excitement, enthusiasm, or a sense of shared experience |
Ease of Replication | Simple to recreate and share across various platforms |
Adaptability | Can be applied to a wide range of contexts and content |
The “let’s go meme” shows us what makes content go viral. Studies say that fun and positive stuff spreads fast7. It also connects with what’s happening now, making it popular quickly.
The “let’s go meme” shows the strength of digital language and memes in bringing people together. By studying this meme, we learn more about meme culture and how humor and trends spread online.
Conclusion
As we wrap up our look at the let’s go meme, we’re amazed by its lasting charm. It started on sites like BuzzFeed and now is everywhere on social media. It shows how we connect through shared experiences and digital language8.
The “let’s go meme” has grown beyond just funny online posts. It’s become a political term, showing our social and political divides9. It’s changed from just excitement to something with deeper meanings, showing how fast internet culture changes.
The “let’s go meme” shows the big effect of online trends on us. It can unite us with laughter or spark big discussions. Memes keep evolving and so does the “let’s go meme,” leaving a lasting mark on the internet.
FAQ
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Source Links
- Meme – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme
- 20 Memes That Got Us Through 2020 | Hey BU – https://www.bu.edu/articles/2020/20-memes-that-got-us-through-2020/
- The surprising power of internet memes – https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220928-the-surprising-power-of-internet-memes
- Memetics – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memetics
- A search for meming: fighting the mind-virus virus – The Skeptic – https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2024/09/a-search-for-meming-fighting-the-mind-virus-virus/
- What it memes to heal – The McGill Daily – https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2018/01/what-it-memes-to-heal/
- From Zero to Hero: How Viral Memes on TikTok Redefining Fame – https://killthedj.com/overnight-memedom-phenomenon-explained/
- Here’s what ‘Let’s Go, Brandon’ actually means and how it made its way to Congress – https://www.npr.org/2021/10/30/1050782613/why-the-lets-go-brandon-chant-turned-meme-can-be-heard-on-the-floor-of-congress
- Let’s Go Brandon – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let’s_Go_Brandon