Started just a few years ago, in June of 2020, ‘History Memes’ already have over 40.1k followers and more than 2000 posts accumulated. Their content covers all sorts of happenings and periods, providing a hearty laugh for anyone at all interested in past events and showing that history is far from dull, no matter what some people might say.
“History-based humor is a fantastic teaching tool and effective means of conveying historical information in an easily digestible format,” Assistant Professor of History at Loyola Marymount University, Ali A. Olomi, told Bored Panda in a recent interview.
“History is a complex topic, but full of rich and interesting stories with plenty of opportunities to find humor in. History memes are some of the earliest memes we have on the internet and remain incredibly popular. Sharing history through a sense of play can be fun and instructive,” he added.
Assistant Professor of History at Columbus State University, Dr. Laura June Davis, seconded the idea that history-based humor is a great way to engage students in past events. “It grabs their attention, makes what we are learning more memorable, and can make people, events, and ideas of the past seem more relatable to the present.”
She also suggested that—with or without the help of humor—having historical knowledge is essential. “At its core, history is often about human stories—who we are and where we come from. It contextualizes the ever-changing and often chaotic present by allowing us to understand change over time, cause and effect, and contingency. By studying history, we can better understand how and why we got to a specific moment in time.”
When discussing how historical knowledge helps comprehend happenings today, Asst. Prof. Ali A. Olomi told Bored Panda what he always tells his students: “History is a way of understanding the world around through studying how we got to this moment.”
“If you want to understand our world, its messiness, its politics, its frames of reference, then study history. Everything has a history, and everything is shaped by historical forces. Even humor and memes have a history.
“Someday, years from now, some historians will study our memes, our humor, and the things we put out on social media just as we study the sources of the past and that is an exciting thought,” he added.
According to Asst. Prof. Laura June Davis, social media and the online world in general can help get more people interested in history. “When used for educational purposes, social media can be a great way to engage audiences with history. There are informative accounts from various libraries, archives, professional organizations, and historical sites that share fun facts, artifacts from their collections, and other fun tidbits of historical knowledge.
“Some share newspaper articles, diary excerpts, or primary sources so you can gain a deeper understanding of the past. Other accounts have recounted past events in ‘real time’ to commemorate a centennial or sesquicentennial anniversary.
“Many great history podcasts use social media to promote their episodes,” she added. “All of these efforts work together to make history more accessible and appealing for general audiences.”
Asst. Prof. Davis revealed to Bored Panda that she herself sometimes uses history-based memes as a means of teaching the subject. “I have used history memes as an extra credit assignment in my classes. My students create memes based on a person, event, or concept that they have learned in class that week.
“Students love this assignment because they get to have fun, be creative, and make humorous memes. What they don't realize is that to create that meme they have had to review their notes, synthesize historical information, and then recreate it, this way engaging in higher-level thinking skills.
“I often share the memes with the rest of the class to serve as an informal review of the previous week's content and an opportunity to have a good laugh before class formally begins,” she shared.
Mr. Olomi agreed that social media can work to the historian’s advantage, as that’s where they often share their research and classes. “Social media has created a global community where people from different backgrounds who were often siloed off in their respective social circles can now interact, communicate, and share with one another.
“We may be living in one of the most exciting time periods when it comes to history-learning; the amount of fantastic information that is available on Twitter, TikTok, or YouTube is unprecedented. It also is an opportunity to encounter histories we don't always hear about; the stories and lives that have been swept under the rug or forgotten over time,” he added.
Ali A. Olomi shared with Bored Panda that the thing that fascinates him the most about history is the stories and lives we encounter who may be centuries apart from us living today, but who share our fears, hopes, and dreams. “We study history and discover that while the years may separate us, there is so much that links us together. If you never want to feel alone again, study history; whatever you are feeling or have experienced, someone has gone through it before.”