Sometimes, it’s tough to catch the attention of today’s smart digital culture. With all the cat videos, ice bucket challenges, and the shocking things found on the deep web, it’s challenging to find a new viral trend that stands out. In this article, I want to talk about something I think fits the description. It may not be shocking or crazy (even if some examples come close). Instead, it offers a unique perspective from a “scientific point of view.” That’s just a fancy way of saying, “I have no idea what’s going on.”
If you’ve been following the news lately, you may have noticed the newest health concern: the Ebola virus. The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has gained a lot of attention recently as questions about controlling this often deadly virus have arisen. Since the first cases in the West sparked some alarm among the public, the media has been concentrating on the latest updates regarding this disease.
The internet has also been abuzz. Beyond the regular amount of news and social media coverage, this virus has taken on a different life of its own. Essentially, Ebola has gone viral, but not in its usual way. Over the past few months, several notable memes and Ebola-related digital trends have emerged. Whereas the actual virus is quite difficult to spread, these trends have proven to be quite the opposite. Dark, disturbing, questionable, humorous, easily spreadable, the following Ebola memes demonstrate one unique fact about the mechanics of viral content: you can mash up several different concepts with some interesting (and terrifying) results.
1. The Slew Of Visual Memes
The first on the list actually represents the variety of typical visual memes you’re likely to discover on sites like Reddit. This overly simplistic idea is as follows: take an image (maybe semi-funny and/or related to the topic) and add some clever text. This alone doesn’t make a meme, however. People need to start sharing the images, as well as adding their own related content. Rinse and repeat a number (a very large number) of times, and there you go.
The meme communities of the internet have not taken the day off with the Ebola outbreak. As you can see, the variety of user generated/altered images is proof that some people have a sense of humor regardless of the subject:
2. Ebola-chan
Taking simple image memes and making something more specific, if not frightening, is difficult to do without one particular website: 4chan. Need I say more? If you haven’t heard of this particular website, allow me to educate you. 4chan is an online imageboard where people can post user-generated visuals anonymously. This website is more than just an anonymous art gallery. 4chan is notorious for starting and deciminating a variety of popular internet memes including lolcats, Rickrolling, and Chocolate Rain. This website is also known for exploring the dark side of human creativity. Case and point: Ebola-chan.
Anime is a popular staple of internet culture. This young anime nurse might be considered cliche in some circles, but seems right at home holding a bloodied skull. The Ebola tipped ponytails are also a nice creative touch. Ebola-chan came about in August in several user generated images after gaining some traction through sites like Reddit and deviantART. This particular example was often posted in internet forums, where as the picture suggests, pain and death would greet visitors if they didn’t profess their love for this health conscious nurse.
Others have also used Ebola-chan to spread new ideas… like Ebola is an artificially designed creation of the white race. This leads us too…
3. Ebola Racism
One impressive feat of meme creators is to connect seemingly unrelated concepts, objects, and perspectives. For example, Ebola mixed with a dash of good old racism. Ebola-chan’s character and image has been used in one particular internet conspiracy hoax where users have labeled the virus as a creation of the white race. In some instances these memes have been created to delibrately increase black-white tensions in affected communities. This so called “death cult” propaganda has included a wide variety of “educational” images highlighting Ebola-chan’s true purpose: to deliberately destroy the world.
An other form of this theme has involved image memes revealing the upside of Ebola: superpowers! Sadly, this silver lining once again seems to only apply to white people.
4. Arts & Crafts On Etsy
If anime nurses and viral racism aren’t your thing, maybe taking it down a notch with arts and crafts will do the trick. If you take a stroll over to Etsy, you can find a number of hand-made, Ebola themed crafts. Dedicated artisans have drawn true inspiration from the infectious virus by creating a variety of crafts. For example, have you ever looked at the worm-like figure of Ebola and immediately thought of earrings? If so, you are too late.
Maybe earrings don’t really resonate with you. If this is the case, have no fear. Etsy also features a rather extensive selection of Ebola cookware. Need a cutting board? How about a bowl? If you said “yes” to either, then Etsy has you covered.
If you’re an aspiring artisan yourself, the Ebola cross stitch pattern might be just what you are looking for.
The Point
There you have it: a virus that has become more viral online than in real life. That isn’t to say that the Ebola epidemic isn’t a serious situation. My point is simply that digital viral trends come from all sources of inspiration. It doesn’t matter how pointless, depressing, or controversial this source of inspiration is, if there is a will, there is a way.
More importantly, these examples also demonstrate the diversity of creativity you will find in viral trends/memes. When people are inspired, their creativity can run rampant.