| WHAT MEMES ARE Memes are cultural units of knowledge like gossip, jokes, mannerisms, images which spread virus-like across global society in a horizontal fashion, or are passed down from our elders in a vertical fashion. Memes are to culture what genes are to life. Only the fittest memes survive. Meme-talk is considered the fad science of the moment. And is a particular favorite of Netheads interested in watching the global threads interconnect.The belief is that the Net and other forms of Media like television primarily, print and radio are the conduits for the Meme knowledge. Marketing and advertising are occupations which primarily incubate and spread Memes. How else does everyone in the world know the McDonald's "Two big mac, and a quarter pounder.." song? Meme knowledge spread via media culture. As the Web increases our speed of information transmission, enhances us as image-based society, and connects our different cultural groups through the hyperlink-- it becomes the perfect Meme accelerator, or rather petri dish. As long as Humans have a predeliction for imitation then Memes will exist. Access+Imitation=MemeGrowth. Graffitti, the Space Invaders Series, and Andre the Giant are all good examples of Memes-at-work. What have you sifted lately? Send A Meme. More About Memes: Article
written by Richard Dawkins, the man who coined the term "Meme" Graffilthy: An Online Exercise in Meme Tracking by One38.org
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