Who doesn’t love a good meme? In just a single image, so much can be conveyed, and they have almost become their own language. There’s Grumpy Cat, Pyro Girl, Triumphant Toddler, Awkward Muppet, and Distracted Boyfriend – and I bet you know exactly what I’m talking about. But what is it that makes them so popular? It’s because they’re relatable. Memes are shared, laughed at, and shared again because they convey something that you’ve experienced, seen, or felt. They can describe a feeling in one picture, a reaction more succinctly than words, and sometimes, they are simply hilarious.
Cat memes in particular are something of a global phenomenon, with people around the world finding that the quirky personalities and habits of felines are able to entertain, imitate, and emote on a level that few other forms of communication can. Living with five cats has meant that I can relate on a personal level to many of these images and messages, and sometimes it feels as though my life has become one giant meme.
What’s the Meme-ing of This?
Before we begin, let’s get one thing straight: pronunciation.
Meme is pronounced meem, and sounds like theme or dream, not me-me, which sounds like you’ve made a mistake.
Another interesting factoid is that memes have actually been around longer than the Internet. British evolutionary biologist and zoologist Richard Dawkins first described the concept of a meme (coming from the Greek word mimema, meaning imitate) in 1976 as a cultural phenomenon where people spread information and concepts in a similar way genes are passed down biologically.
Once the internet got involved, this concept took on a life of its own. Memes, as we know them today, are often so entrenched in culture and society that people can hold conversations using little else; the language of memes.
My Life In Memes
So many memes, so little time, but here are ten of my favorites, courtesy of Cheezburger.com, and the mimema from my cats:
1. Cyril and I discussing his weight loss plan
2. Cyril and Alex, dangling together
3. The look of love from Clutch, Alex, and Cyril
4. Clutch getting his steps in
5. There’s nothing quite like being judged by a cat
6. Employing subterfuge to get some work done
7. Cyril has a rather laid-back approach to life
8. Who doesn’t like checking out the shopping?
9. Get your motor running…
10. Cats Love Boxes
So there you have it: life really does imitate memes…or is it memes imitating life? Whatever the case, it’s clear that cats around the globe have a lot in common, and through the language of memes, we get to share in the wonderful world of all things feline.
- Read her previous article: You Want To Know What??? Answering Our Readers’ Strangest Questions