One of the subtle characteristics of meme images is that way they can refer to themselves, calling out that they are themselves memes, or referring to their own back story.

found on Quick Meme

Found at MemeCenter

Found at Livememe

One way to do this make is to find the story behind the image and change it to refer to itself.

For example, let’s start with the popular images in imgflip meme generator or from memes.com. As you scroll the among the popular memes in the top right, the name of the meme is revealed above.

So first pick one to explore, say Oprah’s “You Get a Car”:

Finding the name of popular memes in imgflip meme generator

First, do some research on the source and story of the image.

The best place to look is Know Your Meme where you can find these popular ones by using the search box.

We can find out for this image all about Oprah’s show where this meme originated. Or, for the image of the goofy kid used as an example for this make, we find the story of Bad Luck Brian started with a yearbook photo.

Other sources for learning about memes include:

Once you have an idea of how to make a popular meme reference it’s own story or memes itself, return to the imgflip memegenerator or the one from memes.com to make your “meme meme”.

Save the URL for your published meme to use as the example link for your response to this make. Also include a description of your research (and link) to the source of the meme. What did it take for your meme to be self referential?

Example for "Memes That Meme Themselves":
https://imgflip.com/i/23yvh2

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15 Responses for this Make

  • Meming me crazy
    by Tiffany Santos (@tiffsanto))

    memes can make themselves

  • If I Had One
    by helterskelliter (@helterskelliter))

    Where I’d put my meme if I had one~

  • You are set free
    by BlaqueBeauty (@BlaqueBeauty_30))

    The history of the Oprah Meme Oprah you get a car refers to the September 13, 2004 episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show where Oprah gave each of the 276 studio audience members a free Pontiac G6 car. The scene spawned video remixes and advice animal My response I know for me, having one is more… »

  • homeboy
    by hailey (@stryii))

    homeboy comes thru with Good Advice Dog? no, that ain’t happening but like… if homeboy comes thru with Blinking White Guy? homeboy’s gonna like… get it

  • Don't disrepect Memes
    by Vanessa (@nessacastrii))

    Memes are literally our humorous moment every time you we are on the internet, so it shouldn’t be disrespected.

  • Who Would Win a Who Would Win
    by Justin (@Justinsightfuls))

    A “Who Would Win” meme featuring the “Who Would Win” meme and one “YEAH BOY” boi.

  • today's class
    by hailey (@stryii))

    drake approves of #netnarr memes

  • My Favorite Meme
    by Stephanie (@mrsjayj))

    I love this meme. It is a staple in my text and internet convos. This image is so good that you really don’t even need words. But when you add them it makes it even funnier.

  • Distracted Boyfriend Memeing Himself
    by Rissa Candiloro (@rissacandiloro))

    When OP thought it was just an innocent stock photo

  • Unpopular Opinion Puffin vs. Icelandic Cuisine
    by Katherine Marzinsky (@KMarzinsky))

    As its name implies, the Unpopular Opinion Puffin meme is used to express an opinion that the meme maker realizes will be unpopular or widely disagreed with.  Upon looking up information about puffins themselves, I learned that puffins are a staple of Icelandic cuisine where “their meat is commonly featured on hotel menus,” and “the more… »

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    This work by Alan Levine is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

    Trackbacks/Pingbacks

    1.  Week 4.0: One Does Not Simply Make NetNarr Memes – #netnarr
    2.  What Does It All Meme???? – helterskelliter
    3.  My #Netnarr Reflection – CogDogBlog

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