In a toxic age of social media, I thought a humorous message might encourage young people to discover the joy of reading. So, I designed the “Opposite of a Meme” sticker. It’s the perfect slap for a young person’s laptop, skateboard, or water bottle.
meme
Skin Exam /
The dermatologist does a full-body skin exam. The patient leaves their socks on. She asks, “Do you want me to check your feet?”
“Sure, I guess. I mean, do people get things on their feet?”
“Of course, Bob Marley died of a melanoma under his toenail. He thought it was a soccer injury, so he never got it checked until it spread to his brain.”
Conspiracy theorists believed the CIA assassinated Marley because of his cultural influence in Jamaica’s politics. The theory goes that a CIA operative confessed on his deathbed that he planted a needle contaminated with cancer cells in Marley’s sneaker.
While it’s been debunked, memetics can ravage the truth. Today, mainly because algorithms continue to spread the all-mighty meme to a willing audience.