Memes come in all shapes and sizes. These are for connoisseurs of classical art, the ones who appreciate the finer things in life.
Memes have become a popular medium of expression over the past decade or so. The pictorial representation of a situation, experience, or phenomenon in a hilarious and relatable manner has a strong grip on the internet. So much so, meme-making is even a legitimate career choice today.
According to Merriam-Webster, British scientist Richard Dawkins—who coined the word "meme"—defended the term in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene after having first considered and rejected "mimeme."
"Mimeme comes from a suitable Greek root, but I want a monosyllable that sounds a bit like gene," he reportedly wrote about meme, which Dawkins defined as "a unit of cultural transmission."
The word meme caught on and evolved like any other trend online to carve its niche. Although many consider memes silly, they hold a special place in the hearts of netizens. Popular pages like @classicaldamn and @artmemescentral on Instagram have their own distinct meme style as they amalgamate classical paintings with modern terms and slang to form memes. The unique references from literary and renaissance paintings to modern-day problems and situational comic capers are all curated by them for their thousands of followers.
Here are 25 memes curated for classical art meme enthusiasts:
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