Memes are a cornerstone of modern-day humour, with their relatability and repetition being reasons for their popularity. As meme humour has evolved, it has taken on numerous methods of delivering jokes, even in the most absurd fashion. Thus, the anti-meme was born, applying anti-humour to meme formats and transforming oversaturated memes to be deliberately un-funny.
What exactly is an anti-meme? Initially, it may sound like a movement against the posting of memes, but anti-memes are surreal, self-aware and creative ways of delivering humour.
By definition, an anti-meme consists of a meme where the joke/punchline is removed to the point where the meme over-explains itself and makes sense.
They intentionally feign expectations of traditional memes. Instead of a punchline or relatable message, it uses mundane, non-sensical and anti-climactic language in meme format.
The omission of humour is what makes the anti-meme funny because it shouldn’t be funny.
Anti-meme humour often falls into one of these categories:
- Literal interpretations, such as a caption of “When you realise it’s Monday tomorrow” met with an image of a calendar.
- Purposely missing the meme’s joke and or punchline. For example, “Me at 11 pm: one more video before bed” followed by “Me at 11:05 pm” and a *stock image of someone sleeping*.
- Over-explained jokes by breaking down a meme to the point where all the humour has been removed.
Some anti-meme examples:
This anti-meme states the obvious, leaving the meme viewer with no overt humour or even any newfound knowledge. Everyone knows that phones don’t fly, Captain Obvious!
What makes the anti-meme popular?
The internet has constantly recycled and regenerated years-old memes, desensitising viewers to traditional joke formats. Anti-memes offer something fresh and creative by disrupting expectations and defying meme structures.
The anti-memes, absurdist and holistic tone is also of note. Anti-memes fully embrace absurdist and nihilistic language and apply the popular philosophical schools of thought to anti-climactic humour. By making memes where the jokes are non-existent, anti-memes reflect humour that thrives on meaninglessness, randomness, and deliberate failure.
Self-awareness adds to the anti-memes’ unexpected success by mocking meme culture itself… through memes! It makes people laugh not because it is traditionally funny but because it plays on how humour works and does the complete opposite. Traditional memes rely on their delivery and element of surprise, so when these elements become predictable, the anti-meme serves to upturn the predictability. The humour comes from the viewers’ realisation that they have reached a dead end: no joke.
Epilogue:
As long as memes exist, anti-memes will continue behind, acting as their antithesis, waiting to ruin punchlines and overexplain jokes. They are the comedic equivalent of opening a bag of chips and finding it half full of air. Disappointing? Yes, absurd? Absolutely.
So, next time you come across an anti-meme, embrace the emptiness and the absurdity. Laugh at the void. And remember sometimes, the funniest thing is no joke at all.
Note: all the memes were created by myself.
Featured Image Credit: Paul Smith