This is Fine: From Heaven into Hell



The difference between the pictures in this post shows all we need to know about the intellectual quality of our society. The quality of art is the greatest indicator of moral and intellectual health. But hey, the kids are just having fun with the social media. It DOES have some uses. "This is fine." 

What is Mematics?

Mematics, simply put, is the study of memes and how they spread, evolve, and influence culture. A meme is a unit of cultural information that spreads from person to person, often through imitation. They can be images, videos, phrases, or any piece of media that carries a particular idea or trend.

Imagine a picture of a dog sitting in a room engulfed in flames, with a calm expression and the caption, "This is fine." This meme, known as "This Is Fine," perfectly captures the human tendency to remain unbothered or in denial in chaotic situations. It’s funny because it’s relatable; we've all had moments where we pretended everything was okay when it clearly wasn't.

Memes and Human Cognition

Memes tap into our cognitive processes in fascinating ways. They rely on shared understanding and cultural references, making them potent tools for communication. Here’s how they connect to human cognition:

1. Pattern Recognition: Our brains love patterns and predictability. Memes often follow familiar formats, making them easy to recognize and replicate.

2. Emotional Resonance: Memes often evoke strong emotions—humor, nostalgia, or even frustration. This emotional impact makes them more memorable and likely to be shared.

3. Social Bonding: Sharing memes creates a sense of belonging and community. When you share a meme, you're not just sharing a joke; you're saying, "I get this, and I think you will too."

The Impact of Memes



Memes are more than just funny pictures or catchy phrases; they’re a powerful reflection of our collective consciousness. They evolve with our culture, providing insight into societal trends and behaviors. In a way, studying memes through memetics can help us understand human psychology and communication in the digital age.

Further from that, it seems there are not just ways of explaining why sunglasses are associated with "cool" and how every fratboy needs a backward hat (besides having garbage hair). This is the mental manifestation of the same universal dogma that drives evolution. For instance, other fratboys see Chad as a backward hat. He gets with the Tridelt. Now, all other Pikes want to be Chad to have the same success. So, they emulate him with the hat. The meme that survives natural selection is the one that is able to reproduce. 


Perhaps, memes are more of a sign of banality than archetypal truth. Somehow, the Ecstasy of Saint Theresa never became a meme...but burning dogs do. The sway memes hold may be a sign of a culture that values the more animalistic expressions of humanity rather than its more exclusive anthropogeny. That would not get views on TikTok. 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Let's Simply Walk into Mordor.

Week 1 Reflection.

The Twilight of the Thunder God