To some people, memes are associated with jokes about cats, coffee, and the latest TikTok trends. And it’s fine. But online humor can also be sharp, insightful, and educational when it’s done right.
That’s exactly what the Instagram account ‘HistorylandHQ’ offers. From everyday life in ancient civilizations to modern politics, it uses clever cultural references instead of dry textbook explanations to talk about the events that shape our present.
However, having sat through a class or two makes the punchline land even harder!
More info: Instagram
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That ain’t me
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Julia Göke, who is the doctoral researcher at the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History, argues that memes are integral to the creation of contemporary historical consciousness.
By juxtaposing historical imagery with modern contexts, memes, she says, allow for a democratization of history, enabling people to engage with and contribute to historical discourse outside traditional academic frameworks.
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Does the union make us strong?
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He was in to something!
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In other words, Göke believes memes aren’t just jokes or distractions; in her eyes, they act as cultural touchpoints that reflect and shape public memory, revealing how we as a society interpret and reinterpret the past.
Göke sees memes as both mirrors and constructors of historical meaning, giving everyday internet users the tools to interact and discuss the subject in ways that were once the domain of academics.
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Yes River River
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Göke categorizes this process into four stages:
Productional: Focusing on the creation of memes, this dimension considers the intent and context behind their production, highlighting the role of creators in shaping historical narratives.
Communicative: This step describes accessibility and reach. Memes vary from circulating in small private groups to appearing on widely used platforms, and since they’re also highly intertextual, their understanding depends on the audience’s familiarity with the references and codes they use.
Receptive: Here, the emphasis is on how audiences interpret and engage with memes. Likes, dislikes, comments, all of these things determine a particular meme’s longevity and relevance.
Historical: Finally, this dimension looks at the role of memes in shaping historical discourse, influencing collective memory and public perception of historical events.
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Been working on my Gruul Dino and Dragon deck lately
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I would’ve been such a stud in the 1700s!
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“[Memes] wield significant discursive power, shaping contemporary discourse and providing a platform for diverse political opinions,” Göke writes. “They have been shown to play a crucial role in community building, particularly for marginalized groups.”
However, at this point, bad actors have also realized their potential. The researcher adds that political memes aren’t simply ways for people to share their opinions; they can also be leveraged to manipulate or influence audiences through strategies like inoculating, spreading, or countering ideas, often with the help of trolls. In this way, memes can serve as powerful tools for propaganda and disruption.
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Is this historical yet?
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Fair conclusion tbh
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For example, during the Brexit referendum,Russianoperatives shared memes promoting anti-European Union sentiments, framing the EU as an oppressive force infringing on British sovereignty. This tactic not only fuelled pro-Brexit sentiment but also exploited existing divisions within British society. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
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Gotta be one of the coolest names out there
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Unexpected consequences
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HOW DEEP DOES IT GO?!?
“Russia has weaponized memes as part of a broader strategy of offensive information warfare—using troll farms, state-controlled media, and AI-generated content to spread false and misleading information as part of their strategy to sow confusion,” explains Dr. Tine Munk, lead researcher and senior lecturer in criminology at Nottingham Trent University’s School of Social Sciences.
So we have to approach historical memes with a critical eye and remember that humor and simplification can sometimes mask bias or manipulation.
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Belgrade Brawl 2.0
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Very fertile
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#31 History-Memes-Ig-Historylandhq
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Okay but I would go into battle for her
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Mooooovd to Florida buy the car you want
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Man walks on Moon
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Very cool
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There is a new pope in town
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Dude just wanted to conque
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Chicago be popping
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Also can be said for most things
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See ya in Tehran
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It’s so over