Internet Lore & Memeology
In 2020, Nathan Apodaca went mega-viral on TikTok for skateboarding down a highway, drinking Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice, and lip-syncing to "Dreams" by this legendary rock band.
Who is Fleetwood Mac?
This 2023 blockbuster directed by Greta Gerwig featured an all-star cast, a pink aesthetic, and spawned a legendary double-feature movie event dubbed "Barbenheimer."
What is Barbie?
In 2007, Steve Jobs officially introduced this revolutionary Apple product to the world, combining an iPod, a mobile phone, and an internet communicator.
What is the iPhone?
In 2024, this singer soared to global megastardom with chart-topping anthems like "Espresso" and "Please Please Please."
Who is Sabrina Carpenter?
If someone tells you to "go touch" this green plant outside, they are suggesting you step away from the internet and get back to reality.
What is grass?
In 2016, the internet united in collective grief over the death of this silverback gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Who is Harambe?
In this hit Prime Video superhero satire, Antony Starr plays Homelander, the terrifying, narcissistic leader of "The Seven."
What is The Boys?
This Disney Channel Original Movie franchise starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens premiered in 2006 and made "We're All in This Together" an anthem.
What is High School Musical?
Charli XCX defined the summer of 2024 with the release of this lime-green, electropop studio album that instantly became a culture-wide aesthetic.
What is BRAT?
If someone is acting overly aggressive, overly obsessed, or overly eager toward a romantic crush, they are said to be doing this.
What is Simping (or being a Simp)?
In 2011, Rebecca Black gained internet fame (and notoriety) after her music video for this day-of-the-week anthem went viral on YouTube.
What is "Friday"?
In this hit HBO satire set at luxury island resorts, Jennifer Coolidge won critical acclaim playing the wealthy, eccentric character Tanya McQuoid.
What is The White Lotus?
Before streaming, Millennials spent Friday nights walking the aisles of this video rental chain, hoping the latest release wasn't sold out on the shelves.
What is Blockbuster?
In 2019, Lil Nas X smashed the record for the longest-running #1 song in Billboard Hot 100 history with this country-rap mashup.
What is "Old Town Road"?
Popularized online, this term describes a person who exhibits generic, conformist, or predictable behavior, acting like a non-playable video game character.
What is an NPC (Non-Playable Character)?
In September 2019, over 2 million Facebook users RSVP'd "Attending" to a viral event urging people to "Naruto run" into this classified Nevada military installation.
What is Area 51?
This Hulu mystery-comedy series stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez as neighbors who host a true-crime podcast investigating deaths in their NYC apartment building.
What is Only Murders in the Building?
Before Spotify or Apple Music, Millennials illegally downloaded millions of MP3s on this peer-to-peer file-sharing program represented by a green cat icon.
What is Napster?
This pop-rock band fronted by Matty Healy achieved massive chart and critical success with their 2022 album Being Funny in a Foreign Language, featuring the hit single "About You."
What is The 1975?
Often used in online arguments or sports commentary, this slang term means to completely dominate, expose, or embarrass an opponent.
What is "Cooked"
This orange cat became an immortalized meme in 2011 after a YouTube video set his animated body to a Japanese pop song as he flew through space leaving a rainbow trail.
Who is Nyan Cat?
This 2022 A24 sci-fi comedy-drama starring Michelle Yeoh features iconic scenes involving hot dog fingers, googly eyes, and a multiverse-destroying bagel.
What is Everything Everywhere All at Once?
Virtual pet owners in the early 2000s spent hours feeding, playing with, and cleaning up after these handheld egg-shaped digital creatures.
What are Tamagotchis?
This Swedish producer and songwriter, responsible for iconic hits by Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift, holds the record for the third-most Billboard #1 singles in history behind Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
Who is Max Martin?
When someone is acting overly cautious, defensive, or insecure because they are afraid of being judged or rejected, internet culture describes them as having this mental "block."
What is "Skill issue"?