Anti Memes

2009image macroclassic

Anti-memes are image macros built around anti-jokes and meta humor that mock the conventions of other internet memes3. The concept was named in a 2009 Big Fat Whale webcomic and hit peak Reddit and BuzzFeed attention in late 2016 and early 201712.

ironic memesinternet meta memesabsurdist humor memesbait and switch memesms paint memes

Overview

Anti Memes are image macros built around anti-jokes and meta humor that make fun of the conventions of other internet memes3. Instead of delivering a punchline, an anti-meme either strips the joke out entirely, explains the setup in the most literal way possible, or replaces a familiar meme template with a mundane, sincere, or completely unrelated caption6. The format shares DNA with Wholesome Memes and Reverse Memes, playing with reader expectations rather than trying to land a traditional gag.

Typical examples take a widely recognized template like Evil Kermit, This Is Fine or Bae Come Over and flatten the joke into something a real person might actually say in that situation7. Urban Dictionary sums up the appeal bluntly, defining an anti-meme as 'a meme of which the joke is that there is no joke'3. Many entries lean on MS Paint aesthetics and low-effort visuals as part of the bit.

How It Spread

On September 25th, 2016, the @memearchive Twitter account posted an image macro stitching together Bae Come Over, The Barber, Nut Button and Doggo into one incoherent joke, an early viral anti-meme3. About six weeks later, on November 6th, Imgur user TheRealOle uploaded a gallery titled 'A little bit of anti-memes'3.

The format broke into wider Reddit awareness on November 21st, 2016, when JarJarsMyHero posted 'Anti Memes are Skyrocketing! Buy Now!' to /r/MemeEconomy, pulling in over 4,600 points at 92% upvoted within a month5. The next day, Redditor jayjenks dropped an MS Paint style Evil Kermit edit captioned with a flat anti-joke about the format itself, hitting more than 3,200 points on /r/me_irl over two months6. On November 30th, Dr-Dangerous posted a This Is Fine edit where the dog just says 'This is a cup of coffee' to /r/me_irl7.

Mainstream pickup arrived on January 3rd, 2017, when BuzzFeed published a listicle titled '19 Anti-Memes For People Who Have Evolved Past Memes'2. The following day, Redditor mfkdso posted 'BuzzFeed has picked up Anti-Memes. Sell!' to /r/MemeEconomy, gathering more than 3,500 points at 95% upvoted and over 100 comments in 24 hours8.

How to Use This Meme

To make an anti-meme, start with a widely recognized template such as Evil Kermit, This Is Fine, or Bae Come Over6. Swap the expected punchline for something literal, sincere, boring, or wildly off-topic, letting the gap between the setup and the payoff carry the humor. Common conventions include MS Paint-tier art, over-explaining the joke, or having the character say something a normal person would actually say in that situation7.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anti Memes

2009image macroclassic

Anti-memes are image macros built around anti-jokes and meta humor that mock the conventions of other internet memes3. The concept was named in a 2009 Big Fat Whale webcomic and hit peak Reddit and BuzzFeed attention in late 2016 and early 201712.

ironic memes internet meta memes absurdist humor memes bait and switch memes ms paint memes

Overview

Anti Memes are image macros built around anti-jokes and meta humor that make fun of the conventions of other internet memes3. Instead of delivering a punchline, an anti-meme either strips the joke out entirely, explains the setup in the most literal way possible, or replaces a familiar meme template with a mundane, sincere, or completely unrelated caption6. The format shares DNA with Wholesome Memes and Reverse Memes, playing with reader expectations rather than trying to land a traditional gag.

Typical examples take a widely recognized template like Evil Kermit, This Is Fine or Bae Come Over and flatten the joke into something a real person might actually say in that situation7. Urban Dictionary sums up the appeal bluntly, defining an anti-meme as 'a meme of which the joke is that there is no joke'3. Many entries lean on MS Paint aesthetics and low-effort visuals as part of the bit.

How It Spread

On September 25th, 2016, the @memearchive Twitter account posted an image macro stitching together Bae Come Over, The Barber, Nut Button and Doggo into one incoherent joke, an early viral anti-meme3. About six weeks later, on November 6th, Imgur user TheRealOle uploaded a gallery titled 'A little bit of anti-memes'3.

The format broke into wider Reddit awareness on November 21st, 2016, when JarJarsMyHero posted 'Anti Memes are Skyrocketing! Buy Now!' to /r/MemeEconomy, pulling in over 4,600 points at 92% upvoted within a month5. The next day, Redditor jayjenks dropped an MS Paint style Evil Kermit edit captioned with a flat anti-joke about the format itself, hitting more than 3,200 points on /r/me_irl over two months6. On November 30th, Dr-Dangerous posted a This Is Fine edit where the dog just says 'This is a cup of coffee' to /r/me_irl7.

Mainstream pickup arrived on January 3rd, 2017, when BuzzFeed published a listicle titled '19 Anti-Memes For People Who Have Evolved Past Memes'2. The following day, Redditor mfkdso posted 'BuzzFeed has picked up Anti-Memes. Sell!' to /r/MemeEconomy, gathering more than 3,500 points at 95% upvoted and over 100 comments in 24 hours8.

How to Use This Meme

To make an anti-meme, start with a widely recognized template such as Evil Kermit, This Is Fine, or Bae Come Over6. Swap the expected punchline for something literal, sincere, boring, or wildly off-topic, letting the gap between the setup and the payoff carry the humor. Common conventions include MS Paint-tier art, over-explaining the joke, or having the character say something a normal person would actually say in that situation7.

Frequently Asked Questions