This
evolutionary basis of culture was first proposed by prominent (and, more often
than not, controversial) evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins. In
his book 'The selfish gene', Dawkins explains how genes act as replicators that
allow a species to evolve through natural selection. His theorized parallel
between gene replication and the way ideas and culture are transmitted and
shaped and changed over time have been described as 'memes'. Dawkins described this in an analogy where he
elaborated ‘as genes transmit biological information, memes can be said to
transmit ideas, beliefs and information’ (Dawkins, 1976). 
Big Bang Theory explains Meme Theory
Yes, Memes. You may be familiar with memes in this format:
... You may have used or seen one that reflects your own cultural life...
...You may have made one yourself.
Just as genes
propagate themselves by transmission, so memes propagate by spreading from
‘brain to brain’ via imitation and natural selection (Dawkins, 1976) with the
memes that survive being the ones that are perceived as universal. While
genes survive in the biosphere, memes are active in the realm of human culture
(Dawkins, 1976)
Hughes (2012) explores the idea the memes are ‘alive’ as they
survive, evolve and go extinct (Hughes, 2012, The Independent) which can be seen as an accurate reflection of
popular culture: ideas come and go, fads pop up and information is transmitted
from person to person through various mediums.
Dawkins reinforces
this notion by stating that cultural transmission can indeed give rise to a
form of evolution (Dawkins, selfish gene) and further elaborates that …”What
lies at the heart of every living thing is not a fire, not warm breath, not a
‘spark of life.’ It is information, words, instructions,” (Dawkins, 1976)
Wherever there is
human culture, there are ideas. The advent of the technological age and the
Internet has allowed memes to spread at an almost viral pace until even the
idea of the meme has become a form of culture, with pictures, videos,
hyperlinks and even the innocuous 'hashtag'. These memes may be spread
from one person to other through social networks, email or news media and may
appear in the form of social interactions, pop cultural references or
situational memes (such as 'socially awkward Brian, pictured above) and evolve
by imitation and parody (Smithsonian, 2011).
The educational
implications of memes are fascinating - not just as a study of information and
culture, but further thought on how memes can be used to shape new ideas and
how they influence and evolve from old ones. Memes could be harnessed to
transmit ideas in teaching, or even used to understand how students transmit
and understand concepts and ideas. They may even be used to garner the
perceptions of student understanding and thought by looking at how much of a
concept a student has understood by the analysis of reactionary Internet Memes.
This is illustrated through the example of 'HSC Memes' where students utilize
social networking website 'Facebook' to interact with other people and discuss
difficultly levels and related thoughts and ideas about the 2012 HSC
examinations.
Here, the 'evil scientist' meme adopted from an Austin
Powers movie depicts the conveners of the board of studies as 'evil' for
producing an obscure question in the area of study 'Belonging' for English
Paper 1, 2012.
Where does it end, and
where to from here? I know I am anticipating the twists and turns memes and
thier evolution in the internet world and can't wait to see where we are taken
next.
Know what I meme, Jelly Bean?
References
Dawkins, R (1976) The
Selfish Gene, Chapter 11 as published on http://www.rubinghscience.org/memetics/dawkinsmemes.html
Hughes, J (2012) ‘Do we control memes, or do they control us?’
http://old.richarddawkins.net/articles/646506-meme-theory-do-we-come-up-with-ideas-or-do-they-in-fact-control-us
Rickhart, T ‘Know what I meme’ accessed at http://tessarickart.wordpress.com/2011/02/04/know-what-i-meme/
Breadford, S (2011) ‘What
defines a meme?’ accessed at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/What-Defines-a-Meme.html?c=y&page=4
Wadham, B. Pudsey, J.
& Boyd, R. (2007). Culture
and education. Sydney: Pearson Education. Chapter 1: What is culture?
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