Watch It for the Meme: Difference between revisions

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[[File:rockyhorrorwatchitforthememe 7461.jpg|link=The Rocky Horror Picture Show|frame|I see them shiver with antici... pation!]]
[[File:rockyhorrorwatchitforthememe 7461.jpg|link=The Rocky Horror Picture Show|frame|I see them shiver with antici... pation!]]


Just as [[Tropes Are Not Bad]], neither are [[Memes]], ''per se''. True, they get old by the [[Over Nine Thousand|9001st]] time they're played, but there's a reason they get played a thousand times and more. Who hasn't ever had [[Guilty Pleasures|some lulz]] with them?

Just as [[Tropes Are Not Bad]], neither are [[Me Me|memes]] ''per se''. True, they get old by the [[Over Nine Thousand|9001st]] time they're played, but there's a reason they get played a thousand times and more. Who hasn't ever had [[Guilty Pleasures|some lulz]] with them?


There's the fanbase that has been ever since the beginning of the show, and there's the [[Popularity Polynomial|second wave]] that watches the show/plays the game/reads the book after exposure to the meme. It's not (most of the times) [[Viral Marketing]], since it's fans rather than marketroids behind them. Think ''What's uuuup!'' vs ''[[All Your Base Are Belong to Us]]''.
There's the fanbase that has been ever since the beginning of the show, and there's the [[Popularity Polynomial|second wave]] that watches the show/plays the game/reads the book after exposure to the meme. It's not (most of the times) [[Viral Marketing]], since it's fans rather than marketroids behind them. Think ''What's uuuup!'' vs ''[[All Your Base Are Belong to Us]]''.
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{{examples}}
{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

== Anime and Manga ==
* Watching ''[[Bleach]]'' or getting a ''[[Vocaloid]]'' for the ''Leek Spin''; also looking for more music by Loituma.
* Watching ''[[Bleach]]'' or getting a ''[[Vocaloid]]'' for the ''Leek Spin''; also looking for more music by Loituma.
** Misao's dialogues set to ''Ievan Polkka'' have surely added to the fanbase of ''[[Lucky Star]]''. Too bad there's not so much of Misao in the anime.
** Misao's dialogues set to ''Ievan Polkka'' have surely added to the fanbase of ''[[Lucky Star]]''. Too bad there's not so much of Misao in the anime.
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** Don't forget the epic taglines! "I want to see your country and my country making out," and "LOL History."
** Don't forget the epic taglines! "I want to see your country and my country making out," and "LOL History."
* ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'': because it's [[Kiai|wryyyyy]]ly good when [[Time Stands Still]].
* ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'': because it's [[Kiai|wryyyyy]]ly good when [[Time Stands Still]].
** "You thought it was a trope, but it was me, Dio!"
** "Your next line is..."
** "German science is the best in the world!"
** "Oh? You're approaching me?" "I can't edit the shit out of this page without getting closer."
** "My name is Yoshikage Kira. I'm 33 years old."
** "What a beautiful duwang." *Chew*
** It just works.
* ''[[Kanon]]'', after [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT2GRpwwS8M watching] all Ayu's [[Verbal Tic|multiple uguu~s]] on [[YouTube]]. Same case as ''[[Rozen Maiden]]'''s "Desu". And [[Shakugan no Shana|Shana's]] "Urusai!".
* ''[[Kanon]]'', after [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT2GRpwwS8M watching] all Ayu's [[Verbal Tic|multiple uguu~s]] on [[YouTube]]. Same case as ''[[Rozen Maiden]]'''s "Desu". And [[Shakugan no Shana|Shana's]] "Urusai!".
* [[Viewers Are Geniuses|If your attention span is long enough]] you're likely watching ''[[Ghost in the Shell]]'' for the meme. The meme that became an actual meme, just to further the show's [[Mind Screw]].
* [[Viewers Are Geniuses|If your attention span is long enough]] you're likely watching ''[[Ghost in the Shell]]'' for the meme. The meme that became an actual meme, just to further the show's [[Mind Screw]].
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* [[Mobile Suit Gundam]] and [[Zeta Gundam]] for the [[Bright Slap]]. And maybe [[Gundam Seed]] dub for the [[Family-Friendly Firearms|disco guns]].
* [[Mobile Suit Gundam]] and [[Zeta Gundam]] for the [[Bright Slap]]. And maybe [[Gundam Seed]] dub for the [[Family-Friendly Firearms|disco guns]].


== Comic Books ==
== [[Comic Books]] ==
* ''[[All-Star Batman and Robin The Boy Wonder]]'': "I'm the Goddamn Batman".
* ''[[All-Star Batman and Robin The Boy Wonder]]'': "I'm the Goddamn Batman".


== [[Fan Works]] ==

== [[Fan Fiction]] ==
* The only reason to ever read ''[[My Immortal]]'' (aside from arguably [[So Bad It's Good]]) is to see just what situations could have prompted some of the more over-the-top memes. [[Makes Just as Much Sense in Context|Don't]] [[Schmuck Bait|be]] [[Tempting Fate|tempted.]]
* The only reason to ever read ''[[My Immortal]]'' (aside from arguably [[So Bad It's Good]]) is to see just what situations could have prompted some of the more over-the-top memes. [[Makes Just as Much Sense in Context|Don't]] [[Schmuck Bait|be]] [[Tempting Fate|tempted.]]
* Most people read the ''[[Warrior Cats]]'' [[Troll Fic]] ''[[Starkit's Prophecy]]'' for the same reasons. Like Tigerstar holding up some Jew.
* Most people read the ''[[Warrior Cats]]'' [[Troll Fic]] ''[[Starkit's Prophecy]]'' for the same reasons. Like Tigerstar holding up some Jew.


== Film ==
== [[Film]] ==
* ''[[300]]'': Let's just leave it at [[This Is Sparta]]! and ''Tonight, We Dine in Hell!''.
* ''[[300]]'': Let's just leave it at [[This Is Sparta]]! and ''Tonight, We Dine in Hell!''.
* ''[[Scanners]]'' is primarily remembered, and watched to this day, for the [[Your Head Asplode|exploding head]] scene.
* ''[[Scanners]]'' is primarily remembered, and watched to this day, for the [[Your Head Asplode|exploding head]] scene.
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** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzZWmXRaT3k "DAMMIT FRED!"]
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzZWmXRaT3k "DAMMIT FRED!"]
* ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'': [[You Keep Using That Word]] and don't know who the hell is the Dread Pirate Roberts? Really, go watch it (or [[Adaptation Displacement|read the book]]).
* ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'': [[You Keep Using That Word]] and don't know who the hell is the Dread Pirate Roberts? Really, go watch it (or [[Adaptation Displacement|read the book]]).
** [[Hello]]. [[My Name Is Inigo Montoya]]. [[You Killed My Father]]. [[Prepare to Die]].
** "Hello. [[My Name Is Inigo Montoya]]. [[You Killed My Father]]. [[Prepare to Die]]."
** [[Elmuh Fudd Syndwome|"Mawige. Mawige is what bwings us here togevuh today. Mawige."]]
** [[Elmuh Fudd Syndwome|"Mawige. Mawige is what bwings us here togevuh today. Mawige."]]
*** "Wuv--''twoo'' wuv..."
*** "Wuv--''twoo'' wuv..."
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** On the subject of Jack Nicholson, ''[[Five Easy Pieces]]'' seems to be remembered nowadays almost exclusively for the diner sequence, namely "I want you to hold it between your knees."
** On the subject of Jack Nicholson, ''[[Five Easy Pieces]]'' seems to be remembered nowadays almost exclusively for the diner sequence, namely "I want you to hold it between your knees."
*** Bah, I deride your truth-handling abilities! - Sideshow Bob
*** Bah, I deride your truth-handling abilities! - Sideshow Bob
* Watching ''[[Balls of Fury]]'' to find out what [http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/18998 "Have your grandma pull the car around"] could possibly mean.
* Watching ''[[Balls of Fury]]'' to find out what [https://web.archive.org/web/20130314021236/http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/18998 "Have your grandma pull the car around"] could possibly mean.
* ''[[Troll 2]]'', [[Big OMG|OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!]]
* ''[[Troll 2]]'', [[Big OMG|OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!]]
** [[Silent Night, Deadly Night|GARBAGE DAY!]]
** [[Silent Night, Deadly Night|GARBAGE DAY!]]
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* ''[[The Lorax (film)|The Lorax]]": "How Bad Can I Be?"
* ''[[The Lorax (film)|The Lorax]]": "How Bad Can I Be?"
* Strozek: the dancing chicken.
* Strozek: the dancing chicken.
* ''[[Spider-Man 3]]'' for Bully Maguire.


== [[Live-Action TV]] ==

== Live Action TV ==
* ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' has several of them: [[Happy Fun Ball]] or ''More Cowbell'', for instance.
* ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' has several of them: [[Happy Fun Ball]] or ''More Cowbell'', for instance.
** And recent ones by Andy Samberg and The Lonely Island.
** And recent ones by Andy Samberg and The Lonely Island.
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* Watching ''[[The A-Team]]'' just so you can understand the [[Memetic Badass|Mr. T vs.]] meme.
* Watching ''[[The A-Team]]'' just so you can understand the [[Memetic Badass|Mr. T vs.]] meme.
* ''[[The Mighty Boosh]]''; [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydr8a3UHUy4 I'm Old Greg!]
* ''[[The Mighty Boosh]]''; [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydr8a3UHUy4 I'm Old Greg!]
* [[Chapelles Show]] is a perfect example of a show people watch so they can quote it with their friends.
* ''[[Chappelle's Show]]'' is a perfect example of a show people watch so they can quote it with their friends.



== Music ==
== [[Music]] ==
* After watching ''Caramelldansen'', you look for ''[[Popotan]]'' (game or anime) and want a ''[[Vocaloid]]''. The last one because of [[YouTube]]'s related videos feature.
* After watching ''Caramelldansen'', you look for ''[[Popotan]]'' (game or anime) and want a ''[[Vocaloid]]''. The last one because of [[YouTube]]'s related videos feature.
* Listening to Nightwish's ''Ghost Love Score'' because of the [http://epicgeordi.ytmnd.com/ Epic Maneuver] meme.
* Listening to Nightwish's ''Ghost Love Score'' because of the [http://epicgeordi.ytmnd.com/ Epic Maneuver] meme.
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* [[Insane Clown Posse]] wonders how [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-agl0pOQfs fuckin magnets work].
* [[Insane Clown Posse]] wonders how [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-agl0pOQfs fuckin magnets work].


== [[New Media]] ==

== New Media ==
* Ever saw [http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/03/19/funny-picture-with-modern-packaging/ that macro of crustaceans gathering around a bag of Doritos?] Those are giant isopods.
* Ever saw [http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/03/19/funny-picture-with-modern-packaging/ that macro of crustaceans gathering around a bag of Doritos?] Those are giant isopods.
* This very wiki [[TV Tropes/Memes|has its memes]], making noobs get deeper in, for example after getting a [[Dropped a Bridget On Him|Bridget dropped on them]].
* This very wiki (and TV Tropes before it) [[TV Tropes/Memes|has its memes]], making noobs get deeper in, for example after getting a [[Dropped a Bridget On Him|Bridget dropped on them]].
* Any common [[YouTube Poop]] material (such as the CD-i games and ''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]'') after watching [[YouTube]] Poop.
* Any common [[YouTube Poop]] material (such as the CD-i games and ''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]'') after watching [[YouTube]] Poop.
** Also, sometimes it draws attention to the material even when viewers of said YTP may have seen the material elsewhere. For example, some might have seen ads involving [[Billy Mays]] without particularly paying much attention to them, and started paying closer attention to such ads after their being parodied in YTP.
** Also, sometimes it draws attention to the material even when viewers of said YTP may have seen the material elsewhere. For example, some might have seen ads involving [[Billy Mays]] without particularly paying much attention to them, and started paying closer attention to such ads after their being parodied in YTP.
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* Many people watch [[Chuggaaconroy]]'s [[Let's Play]] of ''[[Pikmin]]'' solely to find out who this Steve guy everyone is talking about is.
* Many people watch [[Chuggaaconroy]]'s [[Let's Play]] of ''[[Pikmin]]'' solely to find out who this Steve guy everyone is talking about is.


== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
* The ''only'' reason anyone even ''knows'' about ''[[The Spawn of Fashan]]'' all these decades after its publication is because of just how legendarily bad it is -- and because the game's name appears so many times in the classic [https://web.archive.org/web/20120510055816/http://pw1.netcom.com/~shagbert/pages/munchkins.html "Real Men, Real Roleplayers, Loonies, and Munchkins" list] as being the favorite game system for [[The Loonie]].


== Theatre ==
== [[Theatre]] ==
* ''[[Avenue Q]]'', because of ''[[The Internet Is for Porn]]'' song.
* ''[[Avenue Q]]'', because of ''[[The Internet Is for Porn]]'' song.
** As well as "If You Were Gay" and "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist".
** As well as "If You Were Gay" and "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist".
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{{quote|"Now we sit through Shakespeare in order to recognize the quotations." -- [[Orson Welles]]}}
{{quote|"Now we sit through Shakespeare in order to recognize the quotations." -- [[Orson Welles]]}}


== [[Video Games]] ==

== Video Games ==
* Playing NES "Pro Wrestling" for "[[A Winner Is You]]"
* Playing NES "Pro Wrestling" for "[[A Winner Is You]]"
* Playing NES "Tag Team Wrestling" for [[Homestar Runner|the Strong Bads]]
* Playing NES "Tag Team Wrestling" for [[Homestar Runner|the Strong Bads]]
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** "Mmmmmm...richer"
** "Mmmmmm...richer"
* Most people only play ''[[The Great Giana Sisters]]'', and the remake, these days because it's infamous for being a [[Super Mario Bros.]] clone.
* Most people only play ''[[The Great Giana Sisters]]'', and the remake, these days because it's infamous for being a [[Super Mario Bros.]] clone.
* [[Conker's Bad Fur Day|I am the Great Mighty Poo!]]
* ''[[Conker's Bad Fur Day]]'': I am the Great Mighty Poo!


== Western Animation ==
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* ''[[South Park]]'': "Oh my God! They killed Kenny!."
* ''[[South Park]]'': "Oh my God! They killed Kenny!"
{{quote|Step 1: Watch the episode "Gnomes" to understand this meme.
{{quote|Step 1: Watch the episode "Gnomes" to understand this meme.
Step 2: [[Beam Me Up, Scotty|???]]
Step 2: [[Beam Me Up, Scotty|???]]
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* Watching ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'' for Spider Pig.
* Watching ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'' for Spider Pig.
* ''[[Futurama]]'': Memes do not work that way! Good night! (There are many ways [[Futurama/Memes|they do work]], though.)
* ''[[Futurama]]'': Memes do not work that way! Good night! (There are many ways [[Futurama/Memes|they do work]], though.)
* Learning about [[Candle Jack]] from [[Freakazoid!]].
* Learning about [[Candle Jack]] from ''[[Freakazoid!]]''
* Many people start watching ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' for the memes, [[You Will Be Assimilated|but end up as genuine fans]].
* Many people start watching ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' for the memes, [[You Will Be Assimilated|but end up as genuine fans]].
* ''[[The Dover Boys]]'': A classic cartoon I never heard of! I'll watch it! NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW! (It even led to a meme for the above! Confound those ponies, they drive me to drink!)
* ''[[The Dover Boys]]'': A classic cartoon I never heard of! I'll watch it! NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW! (It even led to a meme for the above! Confound those ponies, they drive me to drink!)
* [[Disney]]'s ''[[Robin Hood (Disney film)|Robin Hood]]'' attracts a lot of its latter-day audience because it originated the Hamsterdance tune.
* [[Disney]]'s ''[[Robin Hood (Disney film)|Robin Hood]]'' attracts a lot of its latter-day audience because it originated the Hamsterdance tune.

Latest revision as of 02:02, 23 December 2021

I see them shiver with antici... pation!

Just as Tropes Are Not Bad, neither are Memes, per se. True, they get old by the 9001st time they're played, but there's a reason they get played a thousand times and more. Who hasn't ever had some lulz with them?

There's the fanbase that has been ever since the beginning of the show, and there's the second wave that watches the show/plays the game/reads the book after exposure to the meme. It's not (most of the times) Viral Marketing, since it's fans rather than marketroids behind them. Think What's uuuup! vs All Your Base Are Belong to Us.

This is right before people endlessly repeating them makes it annoying and, ironically, may make you want to avoid it as much as possible. Related to I Read It for the Articles, Just Here for Godzilla, Come for the X, Stay for the Y. Spoiler marks are used in order to keep you from unneeded exposure.

Compare Bile Fascination, where people watch/play/listen to it for the crap quality.

Examples of Watch It for the Meme include:

Anime and Manga

  • Watching Bleach or getting a Vocaloid for the Leek Spin; also looking for more music by Loituma.
    • Misao's dialogues set to Ievan Polkka have surely added to the fanbase of Lucky Star. Too bad there's not so much of Misao in the anime.
  • Speaking of Lucky Star, most people watch it for Konata (after hearing her Gourmet Race).
    • Or her Haruhi impressions, or the other Gourmet Races.
    • Timotei!
  • School Days: A lot of people watched it only after hearing that they went for the bad ending. Also, Nice Boat.
  • Watching Rozen Maiden for the Desu of it. Especially funny since a lot of other characters, and in fact real people speak that way.
    • But not to the level Suiseiseki does it.
  • Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Viral, The Dragon.
    • Now that's Viral Marketing.
    • WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK THEY ARE?!
    • There's' also people that watch it for the Cool Shades, drills, Kamina's manliness, and the Lensman Arms Race which leads to mecha that use galaxies as shuriken.
      • Let's be fair. Anybody who isn't watching it for at least one of the above reasons picked it up by accident.
  • Pokémon: So I herd u liek Mudkips (sic) macros, as well as Fuck yeah, Seaking!, let me show u my pokemans and endless memes involving Slowpoke.
    • Speaking of Pokémon, the Team Rocket motto just never gets old. Ever. Neither does Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again....*PING!*
    • Deviant ART, in a misguided attempt at an April Fools' Day prank, changed every avatar on the site to a Mudkip with the legendary "So I Herd U Liek Mudkips" phrase going across the top on April 1, 2008. Reactions ranged from panic to rage to "That's not funny! Stop sucking!"
      • One of the "Why Am I Here" choices you can set for your profile is "To view pretty, pretty Mudkips."
  • Azumanga Daioh has piles of image macros and references which keep drawing new fans in. Two very well known are Bananaphone and Chiyo dressed as a penguin.
    • Osaka's "bleep bleep bleep bleep bleep bleep" in AMV Hell...and Osaka in general.
    • And Norio Wakamoto's cameo as a cat...thing.

Comic Books

Fan Works

Film

"You remind me of the babe." "What babe?" "The babe with the power." "What power?" "The power of Hoodoo." "Hoodoo?" "You do." "Do what?" "Remind me of the babe." "What babe?" And so on...
No, I said "'allo", but that's close enough."
Hey, lady! Where you goin' with a head like that!
And, of course, David Bowie's crotch.

Live-Action TV

Music

  • After watching Caramelldansen, you look for Popotan (game or anime) and want a Vocaloid. The last one because of YouTube's related videos feature.
  • Listening to Nightwish's Ghost Love Score because of the Epic Maneuver meme.
  • Watching the video for "Never Gonna Give You Up" just because people keep trying to make you.
  • Going to a Dragonforce concert because of the one song of theirs in Guitar Hero. These days this seems to be a considerable portion of their listeners, or at least people who talk about them publicly.
  • Listening to Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek" for "mmm whatcha say". Made mainstream by by its use in The OC episode "The Dearly Beloved", the SNL parody "The Shooting" thereof, and the "Dear Sister" recursive parodies on video sharing sites. Then made old meme by Jason Derulo's "Whatcha Say" that samples mainly the memetastic bits.
  • Benny Hill chasing (or being chased by) women to the tune of "Yakety Sax".
  • Listening to the song Chased Through the Woods by Waking the Cadaver for the "SHREDDED WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAT!"
  • Watching the music video for Stick Stickly by Attack Attack! to see the guitarist's "Crabcore" stance.
  • Getting Erasure's greatest hits because you played Robot Unicorn Attack and—Always I wanna be with you and make believe with you and live in harmony harmony OH LOVE~
  • Listening to Lost Horizon's "Highlander" to belt that "Face Melter".
  • Listening to "In The Air Tonight" for the drum part. So you can turn the volume way up seconds before.
  • Listening to any song used in a "Dew Army" page on YTMND.
  • Buying Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" in case you ever need to channel John Cusack in Say Anything.
  • Watching the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 for Moldova's Epic Sax Guy.
  • Weird Al's A Complicated Song, y'know, in the bathroom.
  • Insane Clown Posse wonders how fuckin magnets work.

New Media

Tabletop Games

Theatre

"Now we sit through Shakespeare in order to recognize the quotations." -- Orson Welles

Video Games

"WHAT IS A MAN?! [glass shatters] A miserable little pile of secrets!"

Western Animation

Step 1: Watch the episode "Gnomes" to understand this meme.
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit!