A Journey into Chaotic Movie Memes
Cinememetix is a hobby movie meme page I created as an outlet for my love of making memes and my passion for movies. I’ve always enjoyed witty situational humour, and in today’s increasingly digital world, memes have become one of the top ways to share that humour.
Now, Cinememetix might be a bit tricky to pronounce, but I’m sticking with the name. To me, it perfectly captures my willingness to stand by quirky or unconventional ideas—whether it’s a joke, a meme, or even the name of this page—if I believe they’re creative or unique enough. Sure, I often find myself explaining the name, but I think it sums up my niche pretty well: it’s simply a blend of “cinema” (movies) and “memetics” (memes), with a nod to Netflix, representing the modern way we consume content.
If you didn’t know, the word “meme” originates from “memetics,” a concept introduced by Richard Dawkins in The Selfish Gene. Dawkins described memes as units of cultural information that spread and evolve much like genes in biological evolution. Though the term predates the internet by about seven years, it’s fascinating to see how memes have become a cornerstone of digital culture. Even Harari in Sapiens connects memes to early forms of human expression, like cave paintings, highlighting how ideas have always been shared and replicated throughout history. I have been told my sense of humour borders on that of a caveman, so it was nice to connect the dots!
Memes, in all their forms—ideas, skills, behaviors, phrases, or styles—spread through copying and imitation. They’re transmitted verbally, visually, and electronically, thriving in conversations, books, TV, and especially the internet. The memes that resonate most with people become the most widespread in a culture. Dawkins described memes as “selfish genes” because, unlike genetic transmission, which depends on creators, memetic transmission can occur independently, almost as if the meme is in control of its own replication.
Britannica delves into whether memes are beneficial, neutral, or harmful. Some view memes as “viruses of the mind,” suggesting that once a meme takes root in the human mind, it exists primarily to replicate itself, often beyond human control. While this perspective can seem bleak, I see memes as a reflection of how ideas evolve—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.
Memes can indeed be powerful, sometimes dangerously so. Religious or political memes can unite people but also cause harm when they clash with opposing beliefs. Conversely, memes promoting health, fitness, and hygiene can positively impact society.
I wonder if Dawkins ever imagined that his term “memetics” would evolve so quickly into the modern concept of “internet memes.” Personally, I prefer the lighter, more playful use of the term. And when evolutionary biologists suggest that some aspects of human behavior are beyond our control, I tend to embrace it. There’s beauty in the chaos.
My love for creating memes actually started in the office, where shared experiences with coworkers made for perfect situational humour and inside jokes. While I get the most enjoyment from creating specific memes for the people I know, I wanted to connect with a larger audience. That’s how I landed on the broad and endlessly entertaining domain of movie memes.
Cinememetix is all about taking popular movie clips or quotes and purposely flipping them out of context, revealing a different, and hopefully humorous, perspective. It’s my own spin on “cinema memetics.”
If you’re into chaotic movie memes, follow Cinememetix on social media. I’m also exploring the idea of designing and selling meme merchandise for movie fans who want to wear their humor on their sleeve—literally. I’ll keep you posted on any updates to this project.
Thanks for reading!
