The document discusses the history and evolution of memes, defining them as humorous images or text spread rapidly online. It traces their origins back to early human communication and highlights their rise with the emergence of early internet platforms and social media. Memes now play a significant role in popular culture, marketing, education, and activism, reflecting societal trends and emotions while raising ethical concerns.

1. History
And
Evolution
of Memes

2. What is a
Meme?
An image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous in nature, that is
copied and spread rapidly by internet users, often with slight variations.

3. Origin Of
Memes
• Humans have used memes to communicate for as long as they
have used any symbolic system.
• Difficult to identify the first meme ever, the British evolutionary
biologist Richard Dawkins is credited with introducing the term
in his 1976 book, “The Selfish Gene.”
• “the skeleton mosaic” (c. 3rd century B.C) was discovered in the
ancient city of Antiocheia.

4. SIMPLICITY
Simple and clear images and
visual aids are more memorable
• More acceptance
• Easy undersatanding
• Social Proof
WHY MEMES?

5. PSYCHOLOGY OF MEMES
RELATABLE
Memes often reflect
common experiences and
sentiments
HUMOR
It is an effective way to
engage people
It triggers possitve
emotions
RELATABLE ?

6. The sharing of memes shows
the human tendency to follow
the behavior of others, it creates
a sense belonging among those
who get the joke and the
emotions are expressed in an
attractive way
“It can’t change the situation but it can change the emotion”

7. Early Internet
Meme era
Pre-social
media
(late 1990s -
early 2000s)
Early social
media (mid-
2000s -early
2010s)

8. Pre-social media
(late 1990s - early 2000s)
• Simple images and text based jokes
• Shared on emails and forums

9. Early Social media (mid-2000s- Early
2010s)
• Rise of platforms like Reddit, 4Chan and 9GAG fostered meme
creation
• Youtube launched in 2005
• Launch of Vine led to short form meme content

10. • Popularity of cats on the internet increased
GRUMPY CAT

12. Rick roll
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give you Up

13. • Memes started getting popular, entering pop culture
1 more episode
sleep
Completing
assignment
s on time
Starting 2
hrs. before
EOD

14. Memes in the
Now
Diverse Formats: No longer just static
images with text - include GIFs, short
videos, deepfakes, and more.
Pop Culture Influence: Memes often
reflect and shape popular culture,
politics, and societal trends.
Meme Communities and Trends/Challenges

15. • Layered Meanings
• Blurred lines
• Subversion
• Awareness
Enter the Era of Post
Irony

16. Usage of memes
• Entertainment- Memes are widely shared to spread laughter and bond
over shared experiences.
• Marketing and Branding : Memes are widely used by almost all the brands
to mark their presence, engage with audience and promote their brands by
creating a relatable brand image.

17. • Education: Memes are also used as an education aid.
It makes learning fun and engaging.
• Political and Social Activism: Memes are considered as a powerful
tool for spreading awareness, gaining support or fuelling moment
to any social or political cause.

18. • Easily diseminiate information to
youth
• Issues regarding ethicality
• Tool for Marketing
The
future of
memes