a classic of cultural studies and semiotics.
In modern life, a specific type known as internet memes has become widespread. These are absurdist statements, images, videos, flash games, and other informational objects that spread rapidly across the Web and gain wide recognition and quotability.
Well-known internet memes ("Preved Medved", the Cthulhu meme, and so on) invariably catch one's attention at first encounter — they "hook" themselves into memory through their oddity, originality, wit, or distinctive style and manner.
Memes are studied by the science of memetics, which investigates the general laws governing the spread of information.