According to dictionary.com, a meme is "a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes."
We have seen this phenomenon numerous times on the internet, where a phrase, idea, blog, or video will go viral, i.e., it is transmitted from one person to the next and before you know it, millions know about it. We saw this happen recently with the video of Susan Boyle singing "I Have a Dream" on the show, Britain's Got Talent.
I have to admit that I had never heard the story of this meme, told beautifully by Katherine Tyrell, aka makingamark, in her article The Best of Keep Calm and Carry On.
Katherine shares the fascinating history of the phrase, Keep Calm and Carry On. It was chosen for a British motivational poster during World War II, to help raise morale in the case of an invasion. Oddly enough, it was never distributed. The poster was re-discovered in 2000 by British booksellers Stuart and Mary Manley (my maiden name!) in a box of old books. Apparently, they hung it in their shop, and people bought copies over the next few years, but after being featured in a national newspaper in 2005, sales started going through the roof.
Obviously, there are certain phrases, ideas, or images that just strike a chord with people. This phrase struck me because of its universality. While entirely appropriate for the time it was written, a time of war in 1939, it still applies to many situations in our world today. For me, it even hits closer to home with a personal situation. Jon Henley, in an article from the Guardian, quotes social psychologist Alain Sampson,
"people are brought together by looking for common values or purposes, symbolized by the crown and the message of resilience. The words are also particularly positive, reassuring, in a period of uncertainty, anxiety, even perhaps of cynicism."
Since 2005, this phrase has spawned spinoffs such as "Chill out, and take it easy," as well as parodies such as "Now panic and freak out." Henley reports that the Manley's have sold more than 41,000 copies of the poster and there are websites selling products based on the phrase. Katherine has a nice collection of products in her article too.
Why do you think this phrase has struck a chord? What does it mean to you?
Visit: The Best of Keep Calm and Carry On
Now that was very interesting, indeed! Not sure why it has struck such a chord with so many. Love the Manley connection for you!
ReplyDeleteMy friend from Dublin, Ireland likes to quote his college professor at Trinity College who would frequently repeat (ad nauseum, is what I deduced) what must be the Irish spinoff version: "Press on, regardless."
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the review, Kim, very much!
You are right, this advice has something universal about it, although to me it is also very British and sums up that wartime spirit as exemplified by Churchill, so I love the historic aspect of it too.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed discovering the newer versions on Katherine's lens. My favourite? Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake!