The Origins of the Internet’s Top Memes
A look into the history and origins of the internet’s most viral memes.
You’ve seen them in the internet’s largest social media networks, you’ve even used them in your own comments on those same platforms and in your chat conversations, but have you ever wondered just how the hell something that seems so simple could gain internet fame to such a caliber?
The internet’s top memes are the pioneer for countless laughs, and for giving us an elevated experience in sharing how we really feel about a particular subject. It’s time we pay tribute to these idols of the internet, showing where they came from and how they took over the web, and sometimes our hearts, in such viral fashion.
White Guy Blinking
Perhaps the internet’s most popular reaction meme for depicting a particular level of surprise, insult, or confusion, Drew Scanlon’s reaction to Jeff Gershman in his video post on Unprofessional Friday’s has swept the internet by storm.
The Origin:
Gamer Jeff Gershman can be heard in the original video claiming that he’s been doing some “farming with [his] hoe,” a statement that was clearly not intended to contain the innuendo that it did. But, you can see in the top left frame that host Drew Scanlon found the statement particularly interesting and amusing, enough to warrant the reaction that countless people have used to depict their own expressions in meme-form.
Virality:
While the first known post is believed to be in a NeoGaf comic forum, the meme did not garner its viral component until its Twitter debut thanks to user @eskbl posting it as a reaction to taking a collegiate biology course.
From there, the internet took over with seemingly countless individuals using the now iconic meme to portray their own thoughts of surprise or confusion. While Scanlon has his own internet following as is with his gaming review videos, little did he know that his panel for GiantBomb’s Unprofessional Fridays would transform him into one of the most popular reaction memes on the internet today.
Salt Bae
“Salt Bae” has made its way into our hearts for numerous reasons — whether you’re a fan of the Turkish chef’s glorious pony tail, his extensive wardrobe of V-neck t-shirts, the way he (cough*) handles his meat, or his overly charismatic mannerism with distributing salt over the finished product, there just seems to be something for everyone.
So, who is the original gangster we can thank for rekindling our love for salted meats? That would be Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe.
The Origin:
Posted to Instagram in January of 2017, Nusret Gökçe garnered an astonishing 2.4 million views in just 48 hours with the original clip of his flamboyant meat skills. The very same day, Twitter user @lolalissaa posted the video to Twitter, aptly dubbing the strapping meat wrangler as the one and only #saltbae.
Virality:
To suggest that there was some special outside internet entity that allowed this particular meme to get so popular is insulting to the dapper chef. His initial Instagram post, followed by subsequent pseudo-erotic posts of similar context, have literally spoken for themselves to the internet world.
But, just like anything else the internet can get its hands on, there are twists and modifications that simply take the content to the next level. The same holds true for #saltbae. Twitter user @elBeardedBandit posted a “You vs. The Guy She Told You Not To Worry About” image to Twitter that latched onto the reigns of the internet stallion, and never looked back.
The image garnered over 33,000 retweets, not including the countless users that simply pirated the image and posted to their own accounts. Not to mention the creative minds of the internet putting their own hilarious spin on the viral videos:
Now, with over 8.4 million followers on Instagram, and new followers coming daily (pun totally intended), it is no question that #saltbae is one of the most popular memes in recent internet history.
The Doge
Buckle up, because the convoluted process for gaining viral status for this particular meme is one for the record books. It is universally acknowledged that for something to go viral, there are numerous components that must all be timed perfectly. For “The Doge” to have garnered the social media meme presence that it has, there are numerous factors that all must have occurred perfectly.
The Origin:
The journey to meme stardom for the lovable Shiba Imu began with the name “doge” and its origins back to HomeStar Runner’s puppet show from 2005, in which the word dog is purposefully misspelled “doge” for comedic effect.
In February of 2010, Atsuko Sato, a kindergarten teacher from Japan, posted images of her newly adopted Shiba Imu on her personal blog site. One of the images happened to be of her beloved canine, Kabosu, peering towards the camera in a sneering, judgmental fashion.
Virality:
In 2010, a picture of Kabosu was posted to a subreddit with the heading “LMBO LOOK @ THIS FUKKIN DOGE.” While the image itself has since been archived, the comments and date for that particular Reddit post are still searchable. But, with only 266 upvotes, small potatoes in the Reddit realm, the virality of the now infamous “doge” still needed more stars to align.
Cue Tumblr.
The popular post above connected with numerous viewers in what seemingly was a role-playing game where one’s options were to “pet doge,” “snuggle doge,” etc. The final outcome is an image of said “doge” smiling with the caption that the “doge is pleased,” sparking a rekindled interested in the term “doge” and its comedic effect that was first generated in its comedic use in Homestar almost 5 years prior.
So, how does the term “doge” gain its virality that we know today? As the term “doge” continued to be used, the proverbial fuse was lit when someone referred to a Shiba Imu as a “doge” in 4chan. Combine that historical moment with the creation of Shiba Confessions on Tumblr, and the creative, and obscure minds of internet users everywhere, and you get a viral “doge” that has taken over the internet — sometimes in the most bizarre of fashions.
Dramatic Chipmunk
Interestingly, the meme so aptly described as “Dramatic Chipmunk” isn’t even a chipmunk at all. The adorable prairie dog has been used as a reaction of surprise, drama, and shock in digital communications for years, and the story of stardom for this meme mammal is one that may make you react similarly to the adorable creature’s rise to fame.
Origin:
Dramatic Chipmunk (aka Dramatic Prairie Dog) was first introduced to the world back in 2007 on the Japanese television show Hello! Morning. In this particular episode, the host introduces numerous animals to the overzealous cast, from turtles to frogs, and of course, a prairie dog.
When the camera angle changes to a rear view shot, the prairie dog turns suddenly to peer at the camera in the most judgmental of fashions.
Virality:
The first recorded meme-form of the judgmental mammal dates back to 2007 when YouTube user magnets99 associated the clipped version of the original video in-line with dramatic audio from Young Frankenstein. Appropriately titled “Dramatic Look,” the video which now embodies over 40 million views set the stage for the cuddly creature to be associated with drama and judgement.
From the new-found popularity of the clip with a reactionary association of drama or surprise, websites such as CollegeHumor and I-Am-Bored, and even humor powerhouse ComedyCentral, presented the memed version to their expansive audiences with their own unique spins.
10 years since its inception, “Dramatic Chipmunk” is still one of the top memes used in digital communications.
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