The 12 Memes That Defined 2016
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The 12 Memes That Defined 2016

Twelve Months of Pure Dank Memes

151
The 12 Memes That Defined 2016

While 2016 may not have been the best year for politics or survival of pop icons, it was a great year for memes. From the death of a gorilla to the dab (which should be beyond dead by now), we were filled with image macros and two frame comics. 4Chan, iFunny, Reddit, and more have been inundated with thousands upon thousands of our best and dankest memes. With so many, it would seem a new one popped up every day. However, there seemed to be one meme each month that would stand out among the rest. It was a tough choice for many memes, but ere are the best memes of each month of 2016.

1. January: How Should a Dog Wear Pants?

This was first posted in late December of 2015, but it dominated social media for most of the beginning of the year. Several variants would later show up, one such asking where a giraffe would wear a tie.


2. February: Pacha "Just Right" Edits

A screenshot from the 2000 movie, "The Emperor's New Groove," of Pacha explaining how the sunset hits the ridge just right was uploaded right at the end of January. It took immediately and became The Emperor's New Meme.


3. March: Is Ted Cruz Actually the Zodiac Killer?

This meme saw a resurgence as the last months of the 2016 presidential election began to wind down. Comparisons between police sketches and Cruz were tweeted and retweeted by millions as well as anything that could be construed as Cruz being related to the Zodiac Killer were shared.


4. April: Confused Mr. Krabs/ When You Wake Up From a Nap

Spongebob Squarepants has been a treasure trove of memes. Whether it be Squidward dabbing or Patrick taking something and putting it somewhere else, the show never fails to provide the materials for dank memes. Here, it is referenced that Mr. Krabs is either just waking up from a nap, or that he is severely intoxicated.


5. May: Here Come Dat Boi

While the phrase, "Dat Boi," is nothing new to the internet, the 3D model of a green frog riding a unicycle was, and the internet had a field day with posting it everywhere.


6. June: Caveman/Primitive Spongebob

Once again making the list, this time Spongebob appears suddenly caught off guard, place in an awkward situation, or confused by something simple. This meme appeared on every social platform, much to everyone's annoyance.


7. July: Harambe


Harambe was shot and killed in May in order to protect a young boy who had fallen into the gorilla's enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. After many people posted sincere tributes on Facebook and Twitter, jokes and memes surrounding Harambe and his death soon followed. Several animal rights groups took issue with the "trivialization" of the gorilla's death and other groups dared to call the memes racist, only egging the internet to post more of the memes.


8. August: Rick Harrison "The Best I Can Do Is..."

Pawn Stars has many in-jokes and catchphrases familiar to its fans, but this is one that went mainstream. Often given low estimates or minimal effort towards something that is worth a great deal more is the most common use for this meme. In a similar vein, a copypasta of Harrison's intro to Pawn Stars entered into the internet vernacular.


9. September: The Button

This is often used to describe situations that are extremely favorable and cause an immediate positive reaction, often suddenly in nature. Slam it like you are answering a question on Jeopardy!


10. October: Meme Wars

The 2016 Presidential Election became even more heated when supporters of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton waged cyber warfare and the Meme Wars were revived. Every meme was up for grabs and no social media site was safe. Pepe the Frog took the biggest hit as during the wars, he was officially labeled as a hate symbol.


11. November: Joe Biden Memes

With the Obama Administration's time in the White House ending, denizens of the net took it upon themselves to poke fun at the bromance between Biden and Obama, the former of the two often acting childish or lovestruck. That or him planning pranks for President Trump to find in the White House.


12. December: Evil Kermit the Frog

Who knew an evil Kermit would be the voice inside all of us, our Id, telling us what we want to hear, instead of what we need to hear. Oh and there is an evil Miss Piggy too for all of those relationship problems.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

94310
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments