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One could ask what is the one thread or theme that unites all the memes shared by this dedicated account on Instagram and turn to its name, only to find that there is accordingly no indication of one topic there either.

However, such efforts might well be the opposite of what one does while scrolling down to check out some memes online. One might feel that we put in enough effort while carrying out our daily job and home responsibilities and that “for once” we might wish to just let the various relatable life experiences take control and flow freely through our perception, sparking various unrestricted feelings and associations.

 In other words, an Instagram account under the name “Nugget” fulfills its name by sharing memes for all life occasions without excluding any of them.

More info: Instagram


That being said, that is not to say that the account name “Nugget” rings no bells; on the contrary, the wordplay leaves us wondering whether it has to do more with a lump of gold or some other substance, a valuable idea or a person acting stupidly. The account has 10 million followers on Instagram.

As Chloe Arkenbout, Jack Wilson, and Daniel De Zeeuw state in their introduction to “Critical meme reader”: “Memes are bastards, and we love them for it.” The way they explain such an idea is that memes merge many seemingly incompatible qualities, such as sense and nonsense or signification and circulation. The authors go as far as to acknowledge that the term ‘meme’ itself exhibits a certain level of ‘stupidity’ because it repeats itself twice as kids often love to do when playing or teasing one another.

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Stardust she/her
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I spend many hours thinking about my life story, all my current problems, my future problems, worrying about the fact that my house might spontaneously catch fire etc. I wish I was like those people who can just sleep immediately after lights out

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However, the meme’s ‘stupidity’ is not unintentional, as the scholars put it: “it is not ashamed” of it, on the contrary, this repetition and a certain level of ‘stupidity’ is a generative principle of the meme. The authors cite Einstein, saying: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” and in many contexts, that is true; however, to an extent, it might very well be funny, especially when brought up to be so.

In his study “The ‘grotesque’ in Instagram memes”, Idil Galip discusses specifically the memes from Instagram and the grotesque as their essential element. Galip notes that the word grotesque comes from the word ‘grotto’ associated with feelings and senses of being damp and bizarre, as is one’s laughter and the uncanny feeling described as grotto-esque and caused by a thing of the sort.

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Laura Lett
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I cannot sleep in my bed for more than a few hours..I always end up on the couch.

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Magnion
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What’s wrong with grown men having fun sometimes? Everything shouldn’t be all about work.

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Stardust she/her
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went through all this mental gymnastics just to go outside my house today for the first time in a few weeks.

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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

im actually pretty good at texting back fast wait...maybe thats s cuz i don't have a life other that sleep, anxiety, repeat :)

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While discussing grotesque memes, the author uses the distinction discussed by Mary Ruso between two types of grotesque. First, there is the comic grotesque and, second, there is the grotesque as uncanny linked to feelings of unease and fear. He notes that while researching the internet for meme artists on Instagram, he found both types of grotesque to be widely used.

Idil Galip ends his article by noting that, as opposed to the carnivals from previous historical periods, the ‘carnival’ of digital life, as he calls it, is uninterrupted and continuous. “It is available for consumption, spectatorship and participation around-the-clock”. And what connects all the different activities and things associated with such memes is, according to the researcher, the experience of “in-betweenness”. 

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According to the researcher, similarly, as the Middle Ages carnival experience was something between penance and festivity, in the digital world, it is the experience of something between embodiment and virtuality. However, they both share the effect of creating ambivalent laughter in people.

Share your experience of internet memes in the comment section. What are your favorite themes when it comes to memes?

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Id row
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This works for me - my husband is a mechanic and jack of all trades and I spent my career in IT. He handles car and house repairs, I handle all the electronics and tech.

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Riley Quinn
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can't sleep? Shut your computer screen or TV off. Blue light is bad in this instance. Instead, turn on a relaxation video of soothing sounds and while calmly doing breathing exercises until you drift off.

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María Hermida
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel really sorry for the tall boy on the right. Life must be difficult for him, and expensive. He must need to have everything, from furniture to clothes, specially made for him.

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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yes i am in the middle of the whole class presentation one by one in biology

Riley Quinn
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's some bad science news on the old snooze button system. Apparently, it disrupts sleep patterns and can cause drowsiness all day. Since I've stopped using the snooze button, I no longer need that morning coffee to wake me up.

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Cyber Returns
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

4 hours later, you notice the writing at the bottom of the screen saying 'PRESS ANY KEY TO START'

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Nosirrow
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once, my dorm roommate's friend organised a speed dating event. There weren't enough women, so the roommate and I agreed to go. Oh, boy. I'm an introvert. Couldn't do that without alcohol. One guy was fooled so badly he wanted to meet again! Ha!

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Sara Wilson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely! U never turn away a phone from a toddler! It's as unacceptable as moving when the cat is sleeping on u

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Beeps
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you wake up and find you had a surprise tracheotomy while you were asleep.

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cecilia kilian
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have become a morning person. Thoughts of a hearty breakfast and seeing the sunrise get me out of bed. I am apparently very silent, and late risers are surprised and happy to find I have brewed coffee.

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Sweensmum
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a few steps up from my (now) husband's apartment when we started dating. It was all given to him by older friends when they got into relationships.The thrift shops wouldn't take anything when he moved out. It got passed down to a younger friend. I imagine it's still out there. Circle of life.

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Riley Quinn
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Way back, just out of high school, I worked in a mall. Stores opened at 10m, but the old people had been amassing in the mall an easy hour earlier. They would peer in at us while we got things ready. Kinda freaky, like a low-budget horror film.

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Gidget Girl
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I stopped using social media and have much more time for video games these days.

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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🎶EvErY dAy WhEn YoU'rE wAlKiNg DoWn ThE sTrEeT🎶 (sorry I had to guys)

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Kiwi Panda
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m so old I just can’t imagine having a way (other than the back of the book) to get homework answers! If it was an even number you were SOL

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Nikki Sevven
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who wants to carry around just one slice of pizza, though? Once you eat that one, you're mad you don't have any more.

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Mama Penguin
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah, fam. You're telling me you're wearing Dior, Fendi, and Canada Goose but you can't pay for a phone plan?

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