Blog 3

Just to start off, I just want to say that the research for this project was actually pretty fun. Looking at memes I have seen for years and finally learning their background and where they came from is super interesting! It was pretty hard to choose one, but I think I found the perfect one...

This baby is pretty well known... and I've seen him all around the internet. But where and when did this image come about? 

So, this is known as the "success kid" or "I hate sandcastles" meme was posted in August of 2007 by Laney Griner. She captured this hilarious picture of her 11-month year old baby making a cute, smug expression at the beach.

Ever since, this baby has been used in many memes and still is an internet sensation! Knobel and Lankshear's article on memes defines three set characteristics that successful memes inhibit. The three characteristics are fidelity, fecundity, and longevity. Since most of you already read the article, I won't go into great detail about each of these. Fidelity refers to components of the image that allow it to be replicated and passed on. Fecundity is the actual rate at which these components are spread and longevity is discussing how long the replications are popular. Which, as you all know, this meme definitely encompasses all three of those components. 

As this meme discusses, back in 2015 Laney Griner reached out to the world and used the popularity of her kid's image to launch a GoFundMe account in hopes of raising money for her husband's transplant. It was very successful and they were able to raise well over their goal. It just goes to show how such a popular meme can have amazing effects. 

But on to a less serious note, here are some of my favorite memes with this image.

I'm sure we can all relate...

Hope you enjoyed!