Memes can become so specific that they become their own kind of language. As the atheist article shows, they can be used to spread ideas or belief systems. (I think some of those memes are actually making fun of atheists, rather than spreading propaganda, but I see their point.) You can sometimes tell if something will be a meme based on how relatable it is to the average person, especially if it’s usually unsaid. Personally, I think the visual aspect plays a larger role than the text. From meme templates, the image can be used repeatedly while the text is interchangeable. One of my favorite things about memes is when a template becomes very popular, the next viral meme changes the template, and then this becomes it’s own type of meme. It’s such a surprise how detailed and niche memes can become. I’ve seen memes where you needed to have seen 4 or 5 other prior memes to get all the references inside. Memes are also one of the only forms of media that are so easy to be excluded from. When a meme needs specific prior knowledge to understand it, it’s easy to “miss” the meaning of a meme. Often in the comments of popular new memes there are people asking to explain it. Lack of access is such a specific concept found in memes.
Intro to Digital Texts and Media 