Some of the memes on this list may seem unfunny or even offensive to others. University of Edinburgh doctoral researcher and Memes Studies Research Network founder Idil Galip describes these as “niche memes,” which are an acquired taste.
In an interview with the BBC, Galip recognizes these memes as a strong proponent of building communities online.
"They're meant usually to create things like in-group belonging, something that kind of strengthens a sense of identity,” Galip said.
Some of the most relatable memes that go viral often poke fun at the absurdity of life. As Galip noted, it’s a “replication of mundane reality” as an art form. She also pointed out how such an expression was practiced in Hellenic times, where comedy took real-life tragedies lightly.
“You've got something like tragic theatre that takes things that happen to you that are upsetting and real-life and makes them into comedic things, which is what memes do,” Galip explained.
It’s one thing for a meme to be relatable and go viral, but another for it to remain relevant. According to sociologist Nicki Lisa Cole, memes must be replicable online and offline to stand the test of time.
As Cole pointed out in an article for ThoughtCo., a shareable meme should require minimal skill to reproduce, allowing it to evolve and boost its staying power.
Cole used the “Be Like Bill” meme as an example that possesses three key “it-factors”: copy-fidelity, fecundity, and longevity. It is a simple stick figure introduced in 2015 to “passive-aggressively call out” annoying social media behaviors.
Because of how easy it is to create one through meme generators, it has taken a life of its own and remains relevant today.
How about you, dear readers? Which of these memes did you find most relatable? Did they showcase the same brand of humor you enjoy? Which of these did you find least funny? Comment below!
