Memes are everywhere and many of them REALLY crack us up! Some are silly, and some are quite brilliant. It’s turned into a fascinating new art form and conveyor of current news and views. But where did it all start?
English ethologist and author Richard Dawkins coined the term “meme” in his 1976 book, ‘The Selfish Gene,’ where he states:
“We need a name for the new replicator, a noun that conveys the idea of a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation. ‘Mimeme’ comes from a suitable Greek root, but I want a monosyllable that sounds a bit like ‘gene.’ I hope my classicist friends will forgive me if I abbreviate mimeme to meme. If it is any consolation, it could alternatively be thought of as being related to ‘memory’, or to the French word même. It should be pronounced to rhyme with ‘cream.’”
Today, we see memes all over social media that spur thought, provoke laughter, and ignite conversation. Here’s hoping Mr. Dawkins is proud of his term and idea, and perhaps even gets a few chuckles from them every day.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/meme
https://www.etymonline.com/word/meme
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