Overwritten.net
Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: shock on Sunday, April 17, 2011, 05:49:54 AM
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Apparently, I'm wrong.
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Hey shock, how are you?
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I pronounce it "meem" like "theme" but apparently some people pronounce it "mem" like "gem."
So yeah, how are ya, Shock?
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Hmm. I thought it was French, so "mem" would have been right. But no, it apparently has nothing to do with French, and it's pronounced "meem". It's a stupid looking and sounding word, no matter how you say it.
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It's a stupid word. I just call it internet phenomena.
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YTMND used to call these things fads. I like that better.
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Meme is actually a shortening of the word "mimeme," which is of Greek origin, it's considered archaic today. The meaning is derived from "mimesis" which is to imitate or mimic.
The short-form was modelled after the word "gene," the idea being that genes are passed on biologically but memes are passed on by other means. Memes in general are social phenomena. Our bodies pass on genes, our minds pass on memes.
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Mimesis actually has a vast array of meanings. I think these days it's probably used more to describe receptivity or expression than mimicry. But in that light it still makes just as much sense.
Where did you find that, though? I always did wonder where meme came from. Was this a reliable source? I just assumed it was something someone made up.
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I think I remember reading the explanation that Xessive gave but it went a bit further to attribute meme to Richard Dawkins in one of his early books.
Internet fad is way better though. I don't mind reading the word meme but whenever I hear it aloud I cringe.
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Mimesis actually has a vast array of meanings. I think these days it's probably used more to describe receptivity or expression than mimicry. But in that light it still makes just as much sense.
Where did you find that, though? I always did wonder where meme came from. Was this a reliable source? I just assumed it was something someone made up.
Good point about "Mimesis" as it can be an ambiguous term.
I learned about "meme" in Linguistics back in Brock U. The subject of "memes" was a common tangential point in most topics in that class, especially in cultural speech development and patterns.
A quick look-up on Wikipedia (not the *most reliable* source but a popular one) pretty much says the same and also mentions Ren's reference to Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene, one of his earlier books.
Hehe I just remembered when Pug and I were watching Batman Beyond and noted some of the fads, lingo, and memes they incorporated into the future Gotham like "shway." Man, I miss that show.
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I'm great - thanks for asking! 8) Quitting my job soon and heading to law school this fall. It's strangely exciting.
Back on topic, I don't think I had ever heard the term aloud before until a few days ago. I was thoroughly confused because of the pronunciation. It's just an awkward word to say and hear.
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I have no idea about the origins of the word or the multiple meanings, but I first came across it in first or second year university when the professor used it in some social sciences class to describe something I'm going to have a hard time defining here. I guess, basically, the social uptake of an idea across a culture. The only example I remember (and I might be fucking this up), is basically the idea that (bear with me here) jeans are socially acceptable to wear to a bar, while sweatpants aren't (or something to that extent). There's no real utility-based purpose behind it, just the social perception that jeans are cool to wear in public, while sweatpants aren't. That idea was taken up by our culture and has basically become a part of it, and is thus a "meme".
Yeah...I probably got that wrong, but using it to define internet fads kind of makes sense in that context.
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Technically, you are correct, GPW ;)
It's basically any habit or custom that is transmitted non-genetically, whether it is from one individual to the next or across an entire community. I'd say "social acceptance" would fall in that category, thought it may be much more broad in a sense.
Haha, Shock you reminded me of a scene in Family Guy with Carter Pewterschmidt (Lois' dad) mispronouncing "wind" like "wined":
Carter: It must be the wind.
Babs: It's "wind," dear.
Carter: Oh, I've only ever seen that word written.
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Yeah, but are any habits or customs transmitted genetically? I mean, if you were genetically predisposed, it would cease to be a habit or custom by definition. That's why I was thinking I was missing something.
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Haha imagine a genetic predisposition to wearing fine silk pantaloons!
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Wait...are you saying that's a cultural thing where you are? What the fuck is going on over there??
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Leopard-print is everywhere here.. Gaawwwd.