What exactly IS a meme? Well, according to Wikipedia, a meme is “an idea, behavior or style that spreads from person to person within a culture.” Roughly translated, a meme is like an inside joke that is shared by lots of people, especially on the internet. And 2011 was a GREAT year for memes. Here are (in my opinion) the 10 most important memes of 2011.
10. Planking
“The lying down game” has been around for years, but it resurfaced this year as “Planking.” It’s been called “parkour for lazy people,” and really, it’s just laying down on something. The popularity of planking led to other photo fads like “horsemaning” and “owling.” Snailing, however, has yet to take off.
9. Chuck Testa
YouTube geniuses Rhett and Link were known for their odd local commercials, but they outdid themselves with a short add for a Califnoria Taxidermist named Chuck Testa
It quickly became a photoshop meme, with people from every corner of the internet doing their own take on “NOPE! Chuck Testa.”
8. Scumbag Steve
Scumbag Steve represents everything we hate about the rudest members of our society. People must know a LOT of jerks, because Scumbag Steve resonated with a lot of people. Not only was Steve a huge meme on his own, his signature hat begat many submemes like Scumbag Dog.
7. My Little Pony
What was once just a cartoon aimed at young girls became an internet juggernaut this year, with legions of pony fans (Bronies) spreading the pony love to every corner of the internet. No meme, video, or joke was safe from being infected with ponies. Pony Death Note? Really?
What made the ponies to popular? Perhaps people are tired of all of internet culture being “edgy” and were drawn to a cartoon that is earnestly about the power of friendship? Or maybe it’s the opposite and bronies are sarcastically embracing a meme that is known to enrage half the internet. Maybe both? See how crazy it can get with these Crazy My Little Pony Mashups.
6. X all the Y
Originating from the blog Hyperbole and a Half, the “All the Things” meme originally was “Clean ALL THE THINGS.” However, it was later adapted to anything that could be done with great enthusiasm.
5. Dat Ash
Puns? Check! Sexual innuendo? Check! Ruined Childhood? Double check. Dat Ash made the names of innocent Pokemon so, so dirty.
4. Honey Badger
Honey Badger is like the Chuck Norris of the animal kingdom, but no one realized it until a YouTuber named Randal brought the world “The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger” back in February. Honey badgers are now super famous, but they don’t make a big deal about it since Honey Badger don’t care.
3. Everyday I’m Shuffling
LMAFO’s Party Rock Anthem was one of the biggest pop hits of the year, and the memorable line “Everyday I’m Shuffling” made its way into internet culture with puns, variations, and image macros. You have to admit, it’s catchy.
2. Rebecca Black
I remember seeing the “Friday” video when it only had about 10,000 views (pardon my internet hipsterism), and thinking, “OK, pretty funny.” Little did I know that the teen girl with a voice like dying velociraptor would go on to be one of the most talked about musical artists of the year. “Friday” was simultaneously hilariously awful and extremely catchy, and Rebecca herself turned out to be quite the good sport despite everyone on YouTube asking her to kill herself. FUN FUN FUN!
1. Nyan Cat
All it took was a catchy song, a pop tart, and a rainbow to make Nyan cat perhaps the most famous internet cat ever. Nyan cat didn’t really do much but look cute and travel through space, but something about him made it so you couldn’t look away. So congrats, Nyan Cat. YOU ARE THE MEME OF THE YEAR!
Honorable mentions:
They Will Never Have A Boyfriend
What was your favorite meme of the year? Were there any good ones I missed? Let me know in the comments!
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