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Blending 'high' and popular cultures makes sophisticated ideas more accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience, which is why the Facebook page 'Classical Art Memes' has over 5.2 million followers.

As the name suggests, it uses old masterpieces as templates for modern humor, creatively pointing out that some struggles may have been real for quite some time now.

So if you find traditional galleries too formal, try this one you can access through your screen. The best part is that there's no admission fee.

The list of people who enjoy this genre is long and distinguished. Matt Dinan, a Great Books professor at St. Thomas University, also belongs to it.

"I'm an avid viewer of classical art memes," Dinan says.

Dinan agrees that these pictures are more than simple jokes.

"One of the things I think is so ingenious about classical art memes is that they take these images that are heavily contextual — like, you knew from the context that this is Adam and Eve, or this is Virgin Mary and Jesus — they take all the context away, and that in itself is funny," Dinan explains.

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Dinan loves that "we're taking something ... very specific in another culture, and taking something that is specific in [our] culture and putting it on top of it" because this way, you don't need to be an expert on art history to get in on the fun.

"I suspect people find them funny even when they don't get the references. People have a general sense that if it looks like classical art of any kind, of any period, and it has this kind of humor on it, then it's kind of funny."

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"Then there's another sense that this is art done by liberal arts geeks, for liberal arts geeks. They're in-jokes. It's easier than it was in the past to become liberally educated in such a way that you can get these jokes."

Dinan believes these memes really do bring older art into a new light.

"I'd see this ... as ... participating in an ongoing democratization of the artistic world."

Some of these memes might look edgy, but you need to be bold if you want to challenge conventional thinking or even spark meaningful conversation.

Dinan says that in the end, there's nothing you can really do if someone wants to be offended by a meme, like the one of Van Gogh looking like he's just seen the phattest booty in his entire life.

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“Someone will always look at an excuse to be offended in everything," Dinan adds.


#19

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Will Cable
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And it came through the hole showing the glory of the light, I shall call it a Glory Hole.....erm excuse me but....

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#27

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Paul C.
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you BP, for censoring a piece of art. I'm sure It would have corrupted us, for all eternity!

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justagirl
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What the hell it that thing shoved up that dude's but? a flute?

LokisLilButterknife
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh Hieronymus Bosch, your mind must have been one hell of a fascinating place.

I'm.Just.A.Girl
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So many things going in and coming out of everyone's a*s in the older days.

Abel
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

El Bosco is one of my favourite artists, so I upvote.

Savahax
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dreams are the opposite. I genuinely dream of going out to buy towels or something

Doofnuts
Community Member
4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most of mine involve flying, but not well, lot of struggle.

Nonna_SoF
Community Member
4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you fly by balancing on a ball of air? Because that's how it's worked in a number of my dreams.

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#32

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Abel
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cats tend to try to look bigger when they feel like under menace Fffuuu! A dumb strategy, but lovely.

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Alexia
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"You should be happier!" my former psychologist told me. Yeah, sure, you're right, how come I didn't think about it :)))

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Savahax
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't have Facebook, are they better than the YouTube arguments? Because some are juicy 😏

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Alexia
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4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, you don't necessarily get salmonella from eating raw cookie dough. Just be careful to put fresh eggs. Bon appetite!

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Luis Hernandez Dauajare
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Quite accurate subtitles, since the painting is depicting an execution by firing squad.

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Savahax
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4 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You definitely can judge a book by its cover. For instance, everything with a rose and a glass of wine is absolute trash

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Abel
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or when your house is on fire but you dont care. Weeee!

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Abel
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you have never seen a dog but somebody tried to explain you how they are.

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Jasmijn
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn’t AI as some people are suggesting due to the awkward-looking fingers. It’s Mary Magdalene from the Isenheim Altarpiece painted by Matthias Grünewald. If you look at Grünewald’s body of work, you’ll see he was t great at painting hands. In his defence, hands are hard to draw/paint.

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Abel
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you are going to draw eyes draw both of them at the same time. This is an advice free of charge.

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Hile Troy
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Guy in the front is into it, but he's been hitting the bud since sunrise

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Terran
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you are poor and the Dr. brings the painter with them. Time to get your rites.

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Prince of Darkness
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bored Panda: Morality Nazi. Because extreme violence is normal and acceptable, but you're far too fragile to see the words "sIut" or "suịcịde" or a fucƙing nipple in a painting.

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Jan Castle
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, the irony of censoring a barely visible nipples in this kind of joke 🤣

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