A meme (/miːm/ ⓘ; MEEM)[1][2][3] is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular phenomenon or theme.[4] A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices, that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.[5]
By some definitions some viral videos would count, if they’re viral because they’re funny. By those definitions, if they’re viral because they’re critical news like the George Floyd murder, they’re not memes because they’re not humorous.
Personally, I don’t think it’s an internet meme unless:
It’s intended to be funny or at least wryly amusing. So, serious news items or shocking things don’t count.
It is remixed. A funny viral video isn’t a meme until people start remixing it.
What made image macros into internet memes was people taking the same macro and using different text. Otherwise it’s just a viral item of internet context.
My definition is not necessarily “right”, but I like it.
All three definitions you provided are well within Dawkins’ definition.
By some definitions some viral videos would count, if they’re viral because they’re funny. By those definitions, if they’re viral because they’re critical news like the George Floyd murder, they’re not memes because they’re not humorous.
The reason for their spread is irrelevant. The fact that it’s “a piece of culture that is spreading” is what makes it a meme.
What made image macros into internet memes was people taking the same macro and using different text
Again, this is well within the definition of “meme”.
My definition is not necessarily “right”, but I like it.
You’re arguing that “Internet meme” should be it’s own thing, when it fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of “meme”.
Ooga chukka ooga chukka
Ally McBeal
Single female lawyer
Working for her client
Wearing sexy miniskirts
And being self-reliant
This is the true beginning.
This was a “viral video”, but was it a “meme”?
A “viral video” is practically the definition of a meme.
According to which definition?
The definition of meme.
That’s the Dawkins version of a meme, not an Internet meme. An internet meme is typically defined differently:
an amusing or interesting item (such as a captioned picture or video) or genre of items that is spread widely online especially through social media
An internet meme is a unique form of expression that relies on images and other types of text-based media to create jokes or commentary about specific events.
a humorous image, video, piece of text, or GIF that is spread across the internet, typically on social media, and often with slight variations.
By some definitions some viral videos would count, if they’re viral because they’re funny. By those definitions, if they’re viral because they’re critical news like the George Floyd murder, they’re not memes because they’re not humorous.
Personally, I don’t think it’s an internet meme unless:
What made image macros into internet memes was people taking the same macro and using different text. Otherwise it’s just a viral item of internet context.
My definition is not necessarily “right”, but I like it.
All three definitions you provided are well within Dawkins’ definition.
The reason for their spread is irrelevant. The fact that it’s “a piece of culture that is spreading” is what makes it a meme.
Again, this is well within the definition of “meme”.
You’re arguing that “Internet meme” should be it’s own thing, when it fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of “meme”.
Yes, just like “motorcycle” fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of “vehicle” but it’s still useful to have a more specific term.
But there already is a “more specific term” - “internet meme”. It’s a meme that (mostly) originates/spreads over the Internet. Job done.