Meme Documentation

About

Meme Documentation is a Tumblr blog which explains the meaning behind various memes on the microblogging site and reblogs notable examples for archival purposes. The site focuses on memes that have emerged since the beginning of 2015, and does not cover fandom-specific memes that have not circulated outside of the original community.

History

On January 1st, 2015, the Meme Documentation Tumblr^[1] was launched, which initially highlighted posts celebrating the new year while referencing the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Highlights

The blog has documented the origin and spread of many notable viral phenomenon on Tumblr, while giving succinct explanations of each and archiving notable instances using the site’s reblogging feature.

Breadsticks

Breadsticks is a series of mock dinner date conversations in which a person abruptly leaves the table while stuffing complimentary breadsticks into their purse after hearing their date say something undesirable or offensive. In June 2015, Meme Documentation^[2] published an explanation of the breadstick meme and began reblogging notable examples.^[3]

Sneople

Sneople, a portmanteau of the words “snake” and “people”, refers to a race of reptilian humanoids mentioned in an episode of the animated television series Steven Universe. In April 2015, the term was popularized on Tumblr along with other portmanteaus, including “snurch” (snake + church), sneeple (snail + people) and sneme (snail + meme). On April 22nd, Meme Documentation published a post titled “Explained: sneme,” which described the origins of the “sneople” and “sneeple” portmanteaus (shown below).^[4]

We Get It, You Smoke Weed

We Get It, You Smoke Weed is an expression used to mock those who outwardly identify themselves as stoners by sporting cannabis-patterned clothes and accessories. On Tumblr and Twitter, the phrase is usually prefaced by the remark “I hate people who dress like this…” and accompanied by various images of people or fictional characters dressed in green for ironic humor. On June 16th, Meme Documentation^[6] published an explanation of the meme’s recent popularity on Tumblr and Twitter (shown below).

Yarn Man

Yarn Man is the nickname for Coldwood Interactive creative director Martin Sahlin, who was widely celebrated on Tumblr following his presentation for the game “Unravel”: at the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in June 2015. On June 15th, Meme Documentation^[5] posted an explanation of Sahlin’s recent popularity on the site (shown below).