I’m your nerd host, Chris Hardwick
Nerdist is a place where we nerds come together and share the nerdery that we find. It's also my home to various elements of the Nerdist Empire. You might recognize me from TV. You don't realize that's where you know me from, but it is. You think you went to college with me or I look like your cousin's friend, but that is not the case. At one time or another you stumbled upon me on your moving picture box in such cerebral gems as MTV's "Singled Out" and Noam Chomsky's "Shipmates." and so much more...
Say hello to the contributors.
Sorry, I’m totally going to be That Girl, because this shit is fascinating. Meme comes from the Greek μιμεῖσθαι (mimeisthai) meaning ‘to imitate or follow’ (that’s the same root we get the word mime from, btdubs). Chris is right that it was coined by Dawkins, who suggested it in The Selfish Gene as a “a noun that conveys the idea of a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation.”
Anyway, sorry, carry on. Librarian out.
And now I’m going to That Girl myself, and point out that Dawkins went on to say that “it could alternatively be thought of as being related to ‘memory’, or to the French word même.” So, yall are right too.
Aaaalso, The Selfish Gene came out in 76, so the term is old as balls, in internet years.
There’s a sarcasm punctuation mark, it’s just like the inverted exclamation mark (¡). And there’s a irony punctuation mark too: ⸮.
I was gonna explain was meme means and comes from, but I just assumed they were kidding when they said they didn’t know.
As ‘going postal’ said,
I’m always shocked when people assume ‘meme’ is an internet thing. :s i guess i was just *that* nerd that read dawkins’ books in the mid 90s in college…..
Really great episode. My only complaint was that it was too short!! You were just getting into creative process stuff and the time was up. But it did inspire me.
The taking a ride to unblock the mind makes sense. It’s the same thing as taking a shower or making your mind do something else. When I got stuck writing a paper for college I used to take a break and play Tetris or mind sweeper. The point is to use simple games that have an end. Playing WOW or Skyrim will be too immersive.
delightful episode! thanks!
(was just sitting in front of the fire listening to it)
i know “please come back” seldom results in an actual return, but this time, please have him back soon! awesome stories + easy flowing conversation = perfect podcast.
loved the extensive kingpin coverage
Good stuff.
He sounds like Ted Levine..
Any talk about Me, Myself and Irene in this?
Dude From Somewhere was exactly right. This was a perfect podcast and a great example of why I love Nerdist Industries. Nice bonus was having all three guys on this one. Thanks for what you do!
Jeff Stillson wrote for Lopez Tonight.
I saw movie 43 yesterday MAN WAS IT THE BIGGEST PIECE OF SHIT I EVER SAW IN A THEATER!!!!! but hey enjoyed the podcast.
This podcast convinced me that this movie is shit, this website is shit, and to never to listen to any of these things, ever again. You have wasted my time and I hate my life.
In Harry Martinson’s “Aniara, A Review of Man in Time and Space” (1956), the “Mima” is “The telecommunications console-goddess”. From wikipedia: “One of the major themes explored is the nature and necessity of art, symbolised by the semi-mystical machinery of the Mima, who relieves the ennui of crew and passengers with scenes of far-off times and places, and whose operator is also the sometimes naïve main narrator.” I’ve always thought of this when I think of the meaning of meme.
“When you are a fuck-up, the world is your oyster. You can do anything and nobody is going to stop you.”
-Peter Farrelly (and Hitler)
Ya know, sometimes even the description doesn’t give me a clue who the guest is on the show. And I may avoid listening to it out of ignorance. But then I remember all the other shows where I felt the same and listened anyway, and was never disappointed.
The Three Amigos are back and with a fun guest that I was familiar with, but didn’t know it. Thanks guys!
Its like you learn my mind! You appear to know a lot approximately this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I believe that you just could do with a few percent to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is magnificent blog. A fantastic read. I’ll certainly be back.