Everything is a meme these days. From Jeffery Epstein’s alleged suicide to iconic lines from Lord of the Rings, if it’s on the internet, it’s probably been memed. While some historians claim memes date back hundreds of years, the modern definition is accredited to British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. In his 1976 book, The Selfish Gene, Dawkins defined meme as a noun that “conveys the idea of a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation.” Internet users hijacked the term, and “meme” has earned a place in today’s lexicon as the word for an image or bit of text depicting a specific concept or thought that is spread through social media. The meme mushrooms as it circulates through online platforms, often being altered or built upon to reflect the unique viewpoint of the creator and audience. Once it’s made its rounds, a meme may have taken on a completely different meaning from the original.
To better understand how something becomes the subject of viral memes, simply analyze the recent Twitter reaction to the new Washington football team name, The Washington Football Team.
The Washington Football Team memes began with simple jokes about the simplicity and blandness of the new name.
I was inspired by the bravery of the Redskins changing their name to Washington Football Team that I have decided to change my name to Firstname Lastname
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 23, 2020
With the 10th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Washington Football Team selects College Football Player
— Noah Kullmann (@kullmann_noah) July 24, 2020
The Washington Football Team will now be called the Washington Football Team. We have a preview of their new uniform. #LSSC pic.twitter.com/Kc5uxyG39j
— A Late Show (@colbertlateshow) July 24, 2020
And while all of these tweets have a slightly different format, they’re connected by a theme. And thus, a meme is born.
But the thing about memes is, they never stick to their own territory. After a bit of time on the internet, they develop layers and absorb memed aspects of other cultural phenomena.
Tweeters took bits from popular comedies such as The Office and Community, to poke fun at the overly neutral vibes given off by the Washington Football Team.
Washington Football Team has a “it is your birthday” vibe to it pic.twitter.com/9eWAhTAZ7x
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) July 25, 2020
Washington Football Team has a “it is your birthday” vibe to it pic.twitter.com/9eWAhTAZ7x
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) July 25, 2020
One user took advantage of the new NFL name to revive the Clinton conspiracy known as the Clinton Body Count. The theory claims that Bill and Hillary Clinton have had dozens of their associates murdered. #ClintonBodyCount was a popular tag-along to claims that Jeffery Epstein didn’t kill himself, insinuating that the Clintons were involved in his death.
If the Washington Football Team really wants to have a good season, they should just rename themselves the Washington Clintons
They’ll kill everyone
— Ashley StClair 🇺🇸 (@stclairashley) July 24, 2020
And some quick-on-their-feet tweeters were able to connect the team name with the latest news from President Donald Trump about his mental acuity.
BREAKING: The Washington Football Team has revealed their new name will be the WASHINGTON PERSON WOMAN MAN CAMERA TVS
— Real AlexW on TER (@AlexEditingRoom) July 24, 2020
But not everyone was memeing. There were more serious reactions to The Washington Football Team name debut. Some thought the lack of originality was a spiteful move against those who had advocated for the name change.
Y’all, the old name was crap and racist, but “Washington Football Team” just seems like something a kid having a tantrum would come up with out of spite.
Washington Conspirators seems fitting.
— Jess Phoenix 🌋 (@jessphoenix2018) July 23, 2020
Others were #shook by the fact that Dan Snyder didn’t have a new name in his back pocket.
This thought has been bouncing around my head: it’s kind of crazy that the Washington football team’s management wasn’t prepared for the day when they’d have to lose the Redskins name. As in, they didn’t have a new name ready. Instead, they’re going to play the season nameless
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) July 24, 2020
Some bemoaned the hyper-politically-correct era of today, blaming the unimaginative name on current social mores.
I’d say Washington Football Team is the perfect name for the ridiculous woke time we live in but even that is offensive to the left since they hate George Washington so if the team wants to be really woke they’re gonna need to go with just ‘Football Team’.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) July 23, 2020
Washington Football Team is a bland, dystopian name that captures the zeitgeist of our offend-no-one age.
— Reclaiming My Time Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 23, 2020
And one tweeter ignored the “it’s about time” praise that Snyder has received by claiming that the boring name was merely a capitalist ploy.
“Washington Football Team” is such a troll move by Dan Snyder because nearly every fan will still call them the Redskins and buy up all the old already made product.
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) July 23, 2020
But whether you’re a memer or a serious tweeter, I think we can all agree that the new Washington football team name is just another element of these wild and unprecedented times.
If you’d said 6 months ago on July 23rd the Redskins would be called the Washington Football Team, baseball would have opening day with fake fans, GOP Convention would be cancelled for 2nd time & masks would be mandated even in Texas, I’d have thought we’d been invaded by Russia.
— John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) July 23, 2020