Key

You guys ever think about the fact that the most consistent and applicable way to showcase how you feel about something is through the use of memes? I often wonder how we ever got to the point in this life where memes are more accurate and aesthetically pleasing than an article you read online. I'm also interested in hearing about people's opinions about the use of creating memes as a creative medium of dealing with a tragedy. Back in the 90's or even way before that, people would never have thought that if something like the United Airlines story happened, that there would be internet memes either showing the distaste for it, or to create a comedic medium. Even adults are able to find some form of enjoyment out of memes that display things like tragedies and happenings in the world. Do we use this medium as a sort of catharsis to keep us away from being truly affected by the world today? Is it considered a problem?

Do we in this day and age typically look for a laugh in a bad situation, or are memes more offensive than they are helpful?

Feel free to use this thread about your own experiences with memes and the nature behind them.

Trollheart

I don't have any particular thoughts on memes, but still

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

The Batlord

Memes account for at least 20% of my internet activity. And do you all remember when memes used to be just a satire of motivational posters, but then the motivational poster design was phased out cause it was ugly and unnecessary?

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Key

Well on top of that, when did it become standard for memes to become so offensive that they're actually funny. It's almost as if you should feel bad for laughing at some of them, but society has become so prone to it that it's no longer offensive. That more-so goes back to my point that it's a way for people to escape from what is actually happening in the world.

The Batlord

I think it's more that memes are a product of detached, internet 20-somethings who want something between them and real life so they can keep it at a distance. Or at least that's what certain memes are about I guess.

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Key

I suppose that's true. I sort of use it as a catharsis of of sorts in order to distract myself from my crippling depression and urge to off myself. I know, unfortunate for the rest of you.

Chiomara

I love how memes have gone from what Batlord described to hyper-specific and deeply relatable depression memes. (And in certain corners of the internet they've all devolved into dadaist or even surrealist horror memes that are still somehow just as relatable)

I can't comment on the more widely circulated garden-variety Facebook/imgur memes, though, as I ignore them.

The Batlord

Are memes art? Stupid question, but kind of a real one too.

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Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

only bulb gets memes like i get memes

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Music Blog / RYM / Last.fm / Qwertyy's Journal of Music Reviews and Other Assorted Ramblings

Key

This is actually not a stupid question at all. If we look at it from the point of view of something like you're looking at a painting or a stone like structure of sorts, you'll think that memes can't be considered art. However if we look at the term definitively:

You'll come to find that memes can actually be considered a form of art in the same way a TV show, a movie, or even self made music can be considered art. Let's look at it in the same light. Memes brings a sense of emotional power abroad that you could get from other creative outlets like paintings and photography. Just because they're more seen as a joke, I don't see why you couldn't seriously consider them art. Especially since a lot of them I would consider works of art for their creativity and ability to make me laugh.

Memes allow people, more-so creative people to let their minds take control, and with this comes the birth of something so creative that you wished you had thought of it yourself. There have been discussions revolving around this whether or not they can be considered art. But with the definition blatantly stating that a form of art is "the expression or application of human creative skill", it's literally impossible to believe otherwise. Even though memes may not seem like it, these are the modern times, and with things like Youtube videos and again, personal made music being considered art, I don't see why memes couldn't fit into the same category. So yes, I do believe they are considered an art, albeit an obscure definition of said art.