When someone asks, "Where are you from?", it can be a difficult topic to navigate. Whether it be the dreaded hometown trap or a sarcastic response revolving around a famous landmark, you can find yourself in a sticky situation. But, the internet has you covered. The answer is a simple meme that lets you respond with a little bit of geography and a whole lot of humor.
Memes occupy a special place in popular culture. They are a form of resistance against today's norm-culture, in the same way that performance art challenged Modernism in the '60s. They also offer a highly accessible and interactive platform for production, leveling the gap between artist and audience.
Despite their informality, memes are complex and meaningful enough to have garnered an academic subdivision unto themselves. They have the potential to take on a life of their own, evolving in unexpected ways that can be as challenging and thought-provoking as any other form of art.
Many successful memes spawn from the overuse of an existing idea, changes in the zeitgeist or even just dumb luck. But, not all of them have the same lifespan, with some resonating for months or years before dropping off the radar. Nevertheless, the internet has no shortage of new ones to try out.
So, what about that sick new meme you've created and think could go viral? Should you copyright it to prevent local politicians from stealing your idea for their own campaign ads? According to Harris, a lawyer with experience in intellectual property law, it's likely that your meme qualifies for copyright protection. But, you'll need to prove both that it is fixed and original. Posting it to the internet usually satisfies the fixation requirement.
