The internet is a vast universe full of information and data that consistently pushes our culture forward creating a society of intelligent, well-educated humans. However, the internet is also a breeding ground for semi-talented 13 year olds singing about days of the week and adorable cats whose grammar is deplorable. The latter situation describes a part of the internet that we all enjoy when we are just looking for something to entertain us as opposed to educate us. However, I have discovered a meme, which is defined by Merriam-Webster as “an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture,” that is both academic and entertaining[1]. This internet sensation spreading throughout the world is what I call the College Major Meme. Now I know I’m not the first person to discover this phenomenon but I figured I’d educate the masses on what this is.

The College Major Memes are centered on certain college majors or areas of academic interest. Then a specific animal is attached to this major to add to the hilarity of the meme. This animal could have something or nothing to do with the specific major. Then the picture of the animal is placed in the center of a square from which rays of color are emanating. Then written above and below the animal on the square is some joke that is related to the specific major the meme is about. For example, “Math Major Sloth” is a square of blue and pink rays coming from a sloth in the center. Written above the sloth is “Pause Mean Girls at the end” and below the sloth is printed “Solve limit to see if it really does not exist.” Now I bet a lot of you are reading that and commenting on how that is not funny at all. However, to a math major, like myself, I have actually done this which makes it funny that other people have actually done that too (It’s true the limit doesn’t exist). Then there are some “Math Major Sloths” that are very specific to math majors such as, “Take a Topology course… try to pour coffee into a donut.” Obviously, non-math majors don’t understand this and don’t find it funny. However, people who understand and enjoy math, see the play on words and find it slightly humorous. I see this as an interesting way to use academia to create humor. My favorite part about these memes is the fact that you can only understand some of them if you have intimate knowledge of what they are talking about. For example, “Poli Sci Panda,” which is a political science major meme featuring a panda eating bamboo and projecting red and blue rays, has one where it states “iPhone AutoCorrects ‘OMG’ to ‘OMB’… epic win!” Not being a political science major I have no idea what this means nor do I understand why this is funny but I guarantee there are plenty of political science majors out there who are getting a good chuckle out of what I just described.

These memes are massive inside jokes that people of certain academic disciplines can enjoy together through the wonderful connection known as the internet. It’s also a great way to give yourself a quick distraction while still using your brain a little. Because after all the internet is supposed allow for the spread of knowledge! Now excuse me while I watch this video of kittens, which is inspired by kittens…

Check out Math Major Sloth here: http://mathmajorsloth.tumblr.com/

And Political Science Panda here: http://fyeahpoliscipanda.tumblr.com/

And for a list of other majors and there memes click here: http://fyeahenglishmajorarmadillo.tumblr.com/others

Armadillo, Cody, English, Internet, Math, Meme, Panda, Political Science, Sloth Random Rants and Existential Crises