A Dawkinsian “meme” is like an idea-unit that can take hold and thrive in the landscape of imagination, developing into culture or philosophy if it spreads widely enough.
Good definition! I’ll often say it is a “primary unit of cultural exchange.” I consider a lot of things memes: internet memes of course, songs, scenes from movies, plot tropes, characters, basically any bit of culture that can be encapsulated and identified as a distinct entity.
Whorehoarder@lemmynsfw.com 4 months ago
I have to head off to work, can you give me a quick lowdown on this scientific meme definition?
the_dopamine_fiend@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Meme : Gene :: Culture : Species
A Dawkinsian “meme” is like an idea-unit that can take hold and thrive in the landscape of imagination, developing into culture or philosophy if it spreads widely enough.
EleventhHour@lemmy.world 4 months ago
That’s a really good definition
fossilesque@mander.xyz 4 months ago
Further reading: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme
CodexArcanum@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Good definition! I’ll often say it is a “primary unit of cultural exchange.” I consider a lot of things memes: internet memes of course, songs, scenes from movies, plot tropes, characters, basically any bit of culture that can be encapsulated and identified as a distinct entity.
jlow@beehaw.org 4 months ago
I think it was a bit tongue in cheek since meme is actually a concept from science (internet-meme is very close to it’s original meaning afaik):
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme