WTFBBQ is Not Your Mother’s Meme
The creative content that could be here is not. You don’t know me, so it doesn’t matter what “the other project is” or isn’t. At this time I give you a brief history of Internet memes from the years 2000 – 2004.
A Brief History of Memes, 2000 – 2004
The early 2000s marked the rise of internet culture, and with it, the birth of memes as we know them today. Memes are ideas or behaviors that spread from person to person, often through humor or satire. During 2000-2004, several memes emerged that became the foundation of internet culture.
2000: “All Your Base Are Belong to Us”
One of the first major memes was “All Your Base Are Belong to Us.” This phrase comes from a poorly translated opening scene in the 1989 Japanese video game Zero Wing. In 2000, someone made a video with the game’s text and posted it online. It quickly went viral, becoming one of the first examples of internet humor spreading rapidly across forums and websites.
2001: The Birth of “Rage Comics”
In 2001, “Rage Comics” started to appear on sites like 4chan. These simple, black-and-white comics used a series of recurring characters, such as “Rage Guy” (a stick figure with a frustrated face), to express everyday annoyances. These comics allowed people to share their experiences in a humorous way, and their format made it easy for anyone to create and share their own versions.
2002: “The Hamster Dance”
“The Hamster Dance” is another early internet meme that originated before 2000 but gained massive popularity around 2002. This meme featured a webpage with rows of animated hamsters dancing to a sped-up version of a song from Disney’s Robin Hood. It was one of the first memes to demonstrate how something simple and silly could capture the attention of millions online.
2003: “Peanut Butter Jelly Time”
In 2003, the “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” meme took off. This meme featured an animated banana dancing to the song “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” by The Buckwheat Boyz. It was widely shared through emails, instant messaging, and websites, becoming a favorite for its catchy tune and goofy animation.
2004: The Impact of “Rickrolling”
Although “Rickrolling” became more famous later, it began to take shape around 2004. It involved tricking someone into clicking a link that led to the music video for Rick Astley’s 1987 song “Never Gonna Give You Up.” This bait-and-switch prank became a popular way to troll friends online and is one of the longest-lasting memes from this era.
These early memes set the stage for what we now consider a crucial part of online culture. They were often simple, humorous, and easy to share, paving the way for the meme culture we experience today.
No examples given at this time. Pound sand.