In the vast world of internet humor, deep fried memes stand out with their distinct graphics and edgy content. These memes are characterized by a grainy, washed-out, and strangely colored appearance, resulting from running the image through numerous filters, and the unique aesthetic has become a matter of visual style and a commentary on meme culture itself.
some deep fried meme pic.twitter.com/Nd2Tvs6zzW
— WildSpartanz🍔 (@WildSpartanz) March 15, 2019
Origin of deep fried memes
Deep fried memes emerged as a unique internet phenomenon on Tumblr in 2015. While the origin of the meme is unknown, the first recognized use of the term came from user paparoachscarsmp3, marking the beginning of a new era in digital humor.
The memes quickly gained traction with their distinctive, overly-filtered visuals that were reminiscent of low-quality images that had been repeatedly screenshot, edited, and shared. In 2016, Urban Dictionary user memegod420 uploaded the definition of this new meme format as, “When a high quality meme is screen shot, reposted and re-filtered so many times over that it has a yellowish, low quality resolution and looks like it was deep fried.”
As the memes evolved, they became a staple in online communities, particularly resonating with users who appreciated their ironic and exaggerated humor.
Rock hit the city.
byu/TalkativeViz indeepfriedmemespart2
Evolution and spread
The concept expanded further with a now-defunct Tumblr and subreddit established to celebrate deep fried memes. These platforms became hubs for sharing and evolving the meme’s aesthetic.
iffy is beautiful like deep fried memes pic.twitter.com/7DTbotQgPG
— sin yugyeom (@noyaracha) November 30, 2023
These memes often feature elements like glowing eyes, a high degree of pixelation a visual noise due to excessive JPEG compression, and the use of silly emojis. They are also easily recognizable by their over-saturated colors, and often include elements like slang that is difficult to understand, and dark, surreal imagery.
These elements combine to create an often absurd image, and reflect a meta-ironic take on broader meme culture.
Do you like my #dank deep-fried meme pic.twitter.com/SEn3xHaomZ
— Merry ChristmAsh 🎄 (@AshKiwami) November 28, 2023
Controversy and criticism
While deep fried memes are celebrated for their edgy and absurd humor, they have also been subject to controversy. The use of dark comedy, including racial slurs and jokes about sensitive topics like suicide, have sparked criticism online with the memes being labelled as unoriginal and ableist.
Another deep fried meme for the tl pic.twitter.com/HvCMaDkCn8
— I'm back babey 😤》💢 (@tobi_ornot2be) April 28, 2020
Deep fried memes as meta-ironic commentary
Deep fried memes aren’t just about the laughs. They push the boundaries of aesthetics and humor and challenge viewers to consider the definition and role of memes in digital communication.
We got a Situation here. pic.twitter.com/inDbwuogzt
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 2, 2023
These memes stand as a testament to the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of internet humor. As a symbol of the internet’s ability to continuously reinvent humor based on the current ethos, deep fried memes remind us of the endless possibilities of online creativity. Their legacy continues to influence and inspire new forms of digital expression, making them an enduring part of internet history.