Meme Report 7/9
Rover.... Why don't you think it over
Labubu Update
The Labubu situation is getting out of hand. Every day, someone makes me read the words “Labubu dubai chocolate” because culture is ultimately ruled by idiots with money to burn. However, the Labubu has taken on a life of its own as “the thing,” which is bigger than the object itself. Now we must discuss the nature of trends, objects, and fascinations. I can’t believe we’re doing it over something so ugly. The Labubu won’t last us until Christmas, and it’s just a matter of time until we’re on to the next thing. It’s the moment you finally give in that it’s over. So stay strong, or give up. Either way, it doesn’t matter; the choice will be wrong, and Labubu will be all too fleeting.
Orc City
On a holiday weekend (in America), when everyone is bored and drunk and sunburned, in a moment of phone time, perhaps in the air conditioning or under a beach umbrella, Twitter users engaged in a collective creative writing exercise about Orc City. Orc City was the creation of an author who had the gall to criticize Hideo Kojima. He put himself in the line of fire. A good portion of people still active on Twitter are almost all that exact kind of nerd. They love things like Orc City and want to protect it and cherish it. They also want to brutally make fun of anyone who would tarnish the good name of something like an Orc City. They are also huge nerds about other aspects of city life, so the fact that Orc City is, in fact, a City opens up a whole new world for them. Is Orc City walkable? Are they gentrifying Orc City? Etc., etc. It was a perfect storm for some, and like any good summer storm, watching it play out in the vivid memetic imaginations of true nerds was beautiful to watch.
TikTok
Recently, TikTok has started allowing pictures in comments, which really changes the comment game and brings us back to the world of reaction images. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander in this instance. The meme economy grows stronger with every reinvestment of the classic image. What is there to say that could not be said with an image of SpongeBob?
Bacon Avocado
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I’m willing to forgive. I’m a kind, charitable person. I understand that we all need something to occupy us. Everyone needs an out. As a structure, this is not my favorite thing, but it’s not my least favorite either. Each occurrence has the potential to be somewhat interesting. I look for ire in my heart and I find none. I look for joy and find nothing there either. It’s fine! It’s fine! It’s all fine!
Rover!
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This sound is not exactly viral, and every video is essentially the same, but I love it when we review a well-known cultural text. As someone who used to be a little girl with curly red hair, it has always been a big part of my life. I know the rest of you know and care a lot about Little Orphan Annie because everyone is constantly bringing her up and comparing me to her. That being said, it is a good musical, and like any musical, there are moments in the sprawling soundtrack that have been overlooked. Now with TikTok, we can revisit Annie and give that one orphan her flowers.
I Grieve Different
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The Urr text of TikTok is about the duality of sometimes when a good thing happens, bad things also happen, or conversely, sometimes when a bad thing happens, good things also happen. It's the most common way to present a multifaceted idea, and it’s the easiest way to display one’s depth (or truama). We will find new ways to explore this dichotomy every six months or every time we get a new sound that tickles our eardrums. Nothing special, nothing new. I haven’t seen anything here that hasn’t been said before or couldn’t be said with one of the existing sounds we have that have simply fallen out of fashion.
DIVA ALERT: Micky
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A common way to gain fame and following on TikTok is to post a viral video and then act humble and surprised at one’s sudden fame. It’s a method I am increasingly bored by. These people are ill-equipped to handle their newfound fame, which they secretly wanted the whole time. They’re not real divas, and they’re not real innovators of the form. Micky is no such girl. Micky is not only trying but succeeding. No one is doing it like her! Even 30 seconds with Micky makes my day because I know I’m in the presence of a true star. Micky is incredible. If you’re not on the train yet, get on the train now, so you can say you were there before the podcast, red carpet, etc.