From Dawkins to Doge: The Evolution, Economics, and "Brain Rot" of Internet Memes
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Show Notes
In this episode, we explore the fascinating history and cultural impact of the Internet meme, a unit of culture that spreads virally through imitation and intertextuality. We trace the concept from Richard Dawkins’ original 1976 coinage regarding cultural transmission to Mike Godwin’s 1993 adaptation of the term for online communities.
Join us as we discuss:
• The Evolution of Formats: How memes grew from early emoticons and the "Dancing Baby" to "lolcat" image macros, eventually morphing into "dank" surrealism and the short-form videos of TikTok.
• Modern Slang & Trends: The rise of "brain rot," a term used to describe low-quality content associated with Generation Alpha slang like "skibidi" and "rizz".
• Real-World Impact: How memes have moved beyond entertainment to shape politics (such as the Pepe the Frog symbol), finance (the "meme stock" phenomenon involving GameStop), and corporate marketing strategies.
• Copyright & Cash: The legal gray areas of fair use and how viral stars like "Disaster Girl" have monetized their likenesses through NFTs.
Tune in to understand how these fleeting digital trends foster collective identity and influence the global conversation.