Changes

==Concept of a Meme==

==Concept of a Meme==

According to Dawkins, a meme is any cultural entity that can be considered a replicator, and cites melodies, cultural similarities, and learned skills as examples. In theory, because a human does not copy memes precisely, and because humans have the ability to refine, edit, and otherwise alter memes, they can change over time, akin to the [[Theory of Evolution]]. Unlike in biological evolution, Memes do not require a physical medium to be transfered, thus theoretically, allowing for far higher rates of change.  

According to Dawkins, a meme is any cultural entity that can be considered a replicator, and cites melodies, cultural similarities, and learned skills as examples. In theory, because a human does not copy memes precisely, and because humans have the ability to refine, edit, and otherwise alter memes, they can change over time, akin to the [[Theory of Evolution]]. Unlike in biological evolution, Memes do not require a physical medium to be transferred, thus theoretically, allowing for far higher rates of change.  

===Transmission of a meme===

===Transmission of a meme===

Some popular theories on how memes transmit include:

Some popular theories on how memes transmit include:

==Memetics==

==Memetics==

{{main|Memetics}}

{{main|Memetics}}

The field of study of Memes is "Memetics".  Memeticists have proposed that just as memes function analogously to genes, memetics functions analogously to genetics. Memetics attempts to apply conventional scientific methods (such as those used in population genetics and epidemiology) to explain existing patterns and transmission of cultural ideas. Critics, however, claim that Memetics is still at best, a protoscience, and at worst, a psuedoscience, citing difficulties in tracking changes discreetly, scientifically disproving, and evaluating factors.

The field of study of Memes is "Memetics".  Memeticists have proposed that just as memes function analogously to genes, memetics functions analogously to genetics. Memetics attempts to apply conventional scientific methods (such as those used in population genetics and epidemiology) to explain existing patterns and transmission of cultural ideas. Critics, however, claim that Memetics is still at best, a protoscience, and at worst, a pseudoscience, citing difficulties in tracking changes discreetly, scientifically disproving, and evaluating factors.

==Internet Meme==

==Internet Meme==