GalacticCactus Forum
Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: Jonathon on January 23, 2015, 12:28:39 PM
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Some of my old coworkers at the Church are having a debate. The Church keeps using the term "meme" to refer to shareable images with inspirational quotes on them, and my former coworkers hate it, because those aren't really memes. I'm having a hard time defining exactly what a meme is, though, and an even harder time coming up for an alternative name for these non-meme images.
I think memes can be things other than text on images, but the ones that are are more than just text on images, if that makes sense. For one thing, they're usually organic—manufactured memes aren't really memes, I think. And real memes are usually sort of templatized catchphrases or cultural references that can be used in a variety of situations.
The real question, though, is whether it's worth it to try to get the Church to change its usage. Maybe this usage bugs the more internet-savvy members, but I think we're in the minority.
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By the way, this is the kind of shareable image I'm talking about (https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/ces-devotionals/memes?lang=eng).
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That's not what I'd call a meme. It doesn't bother me that they want to, though.
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That's not what I'd call a meme.
Ditto. Inspirational posters, or inspirational images, maybe?
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I don't really even agree with calling the-stuff-you-are-calling-memes memes. I'm okay with the long form "internet memes", but I think it's a shame that the original/broader meaning of meme is mostly obscured by associations with crappy art from 4 chan.
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I think I agree with you, but I think it's a losing battle. The lexical ship has sailed.
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I think you are correct.
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For one thing, they're usually organic—manufactured memes aren't really memes, I think.
I don't know what this really means. All memes are manufactured.
One thing that makes memes memes, as the term is generally used, is that they comes in a group or series, with variations between them. A single image with text on it is not a meme.
I don't really even agree with calling the-stuff-you-are-calling-memes memes. I'm okay with the long form "internet memes", but I think it's a shame that the original/broader meaning of meme is mostly obscured by associations with crappy art from 4 chan.
I agree. The original coining of 'meme' was an extremely useful one that we have now lost.
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For one thing, they're usually organic—manufactured memes aren't really memes, I think.
I don't know what this really means. All memes are manufactured.
I mean that I think there's a difference between people coming up with image macros on their own and a company or organization making them and then telling people, "Here, share these."
One thing that makes memes memes, as the term is generally used, is that they comes in a group or series, with variations between them. A single image with text on it is not a meme.
I don't really even agree with calling the-stuff-you-are-calling-memes memes. I'm okay with the long form "internet memes", but I think it's a shame that the original/broader meaning of meme is mostly obscured by associations with crappy art from 4 chan.
I agree. The original coining of 'meme' was an extremely useful one that we have now lost.
Yeah, good point. But even if the word has already changed considerably, I still see a big difference between the kind of image that I linked to above and a picture of Fry saying "Shut up and take my money!" But I agree that even hanging on to that meaning is a losing battle.
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I mean that I think there's a difference between people coming up with image macros on their own and a company or organization making them and then telling people, "Here, share these."
Ah. Yeah, I agree with that.
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They have literally decimated the definition of meme.
P.S. They're mormonads, anyway.
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The real question, though, is whether it's worth it to try to get the Church to change its usage.
Probably not.
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I think my concept of a "meme" is something that gains internet popularity. I mean, I can make all kinds of posters with words on them, but unless they go viral on the internet, and someone starts making spoofs of them with other words, I don't think I'd consider them a meme
and I don't think the church would want people taking their image and putting other words on it, either..
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I think my concept of a "meme" is something that gains internet popularity. I mean, I can make all kinds of posters with words on them, but unless they go viral on the internet, and someone starts making spoofs of them with other words, I don't think I'd consider them a meme
and I don't think the church would want people taking their image and putting other words on it, either..
Agreed. I think there has to be some element of virality and modifiability, which is two strikes against the premade image macros.