British Memes since 2000David Edmundson-Bird@groovegenerator

Why am I talking about Memes and History?• It all started with this– Polovina, Simon; Bird, David; French, Tim (2005)

• "Can Transactions and Organisational Semiotics Help Chronic, Wicked Problems through Interaction Design?“

• Proceedings of the "Designer, User, Meaning Maker: Rethinking Relationships for a More Creative HCI" workshop

• (ISBN 0-904354-90-3) if you’re interested

• We wanted to know why communities put up with shoddy “make do” systems

• It was an excuse to surf the net• B3ta.com was our case study

What is a Meme?

• First mention– Die mnemischen Empfindungen in ihren Beziehungen

zu den Originalempfindungen• Richard Semon 1904

• Social contagion• Imitation (key issue in the demise of Memes too)• Criticism:– Benitez-Bribiesca

• “A pseudoscientific dogma“, random, lacking a script

Historical Pre Internet Memes

• January 10th 1984– Clara Peller “Where’s the Beef?”• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-ka_edE-CM&feat

ure=player_embedded• Catchphrase instant hit around USA• Wendy’s sales rocketed

Historical Pre Internet Memes

B3ta – birthplace of the British Meme?

First Animals appear 20/09/01

Note this usability

reference

First Kitten on B3ta

Influences on B3ta and The British Meme

• Arguably FARK squirrel,Kevin Schafer

• Also

The Growth of Memes and “The Bandwagon”

Apparently, “The Fear”was knitted bySpacefish’s girlfriend.Spacefish was one ofthe first B3tans to notegrowth of memes onthe site, including useof l337speke terms(hedescribed them asAOLISMS)

Key Animal Memes

• Clean Kitty• Dancing Bear• Fluffy the Penguin• No Hands• Clive• Evil Lemur Eyes

Key Human Memes

• Casey• Chump Manbear• Teh Quo• Svenno• Brian Blessed• Munter• Dick Beattie• Smug Bastard

Key Meme Case: “Teh Quo”

Key Meme Case: “Teh Quo”

Key Meme Case: “Teh Quo” & Evil

Animals as Memes in CompetitionsCa. Nov 2001

Ca. Dec 2002

Demise of Memes

• On B3ta– Blandwagon effect (imitation aggressor)

– “Glasscock”– Network beyond individual influence

Demise of Memes

• Arrival of the professional meme

And finally – a real Panda Chaser

Thanks and Questions

• I know I won’t have your favourite• Questions (but no answers)• Contact me:– d.edmundson-bird@mmu.ac.uk– @groovegenerator– Via LinkedIn