Changes

A '''meme''' is an idea that starts on the [[Internet]], quickly acquiring modifications from users around the world such that the root idea becomes the basis for multiple spin-off ideas, subsets of ideas, and other similar iterations.  In this sense, a "meme" evolves, taking on a life of its own through the contributions of users of varied cultural backgrounds.

A '''meme''' is a the smallest meaningful unite of cultural or social information. The term was coined by [[Richard Dawkins]] in 1976. The term is derived from the word [[gene]] which is a unit of hereditary biologic information. Dawkins proposed the idea that social information could change and propagate through a culture in a way similar to genes in a population of organisms.

 

The [[Internet]] has been a source for the creation and prorogation of what many feel are memes. On the Internet an idea can be developed an quickly acquire modifications from users around the world such that the root idea becomes the basis for multiple spin-off ideas, subsets of ideas, and other similar iterations.  In this sense, a "meme" evolves, taking on a life of its own through the contributions of users of varied cultural backgrounds.

Most "memes" are humorous in nature.  "All Your Base Are Belong to Us" was an early Internet "meme," and "[[lolcat]]" is a popular emergent meme.

Most "memes" are humorous in nature.  "All Your Base Are Belong to Us" was an early Internet "meme," and "[[lolcat]]" is a popular emergent meme.