Memes that propagate less prolifically may become extinct, while others may survive, spread, and (for better or for worse) mutate. Memes spread through the behavior that they generate in their hosts. Memes do this through the processes of variation, mutation, competition, and inheritance, each of which influences a meme's reproductive success. Proponents theorize that memes are a viral phenomenon that may evolve by natural selection in a manner analogous to that of biological evolution. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices, that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Since then, Astley has seen his performance career revitalized by the phenomenon.Īstley can currently be found on TikTok, where he has managed to accumulate 1.9 million followers.A meme ( / m iː m/ MEEM) is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular phenomenon or theme.
Plus, it's a pretty catchy tune!Īstley initially didn’t seem to know what to make of the meme's popularity, having stated that he finds it "bizarre and funny," and that his only concern is that his "daughter doesn't get embarrassed about it."Īstley soon embraced the meme, and even agreed to Rickroll the 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with a surprise performance of the song. Personally, I think Astley’s hilariously half-hearted dance moves, along with his sly grin, imbue the video with a mischievous vibe that its creators never intended, making the song perfect for the prank. Many believe that the meme has endured due to Astley’s unexpectedly deep voice, contrasting with his boyish appearance. The meme grew so popular that it was included in the post-credits scene of a Disney movie, Ralph Breaks the Internet, teasing a "sneak peek" of Frozen II which transitioned into "Never Gonna Give You Up." The internet “hacktivist” group Anonymous protested the censorship outside of the Church's various headquarters by chanting the song.Īnother public event that spread the popularity of the meme occurred in August 2015, after The Foo Fighters drove past hateful Westboro Baptist Church protesters while blasting the song at full volume, starting a spontaneous dance party. The prank spread to the mainstream after multiple Rickrolling public events, one of the first involving the Church of Scientology, which had been aggressively attempting to censor videos critical of the church (what a surprise).
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