In James Gleick’s article What Defines a Meme, memes are compared to complex organisms that could self-replicate and evolve within or between hosts. Like genes, memes can be furthered by natural selection; while the former needs a physical medium, the latter is abstract and constantly changing (mutating). Memes “exploit” human brains, languages, the Internet, and all kind of mediums to advance its own survival. Gleick argues that memes are as powerful and destructive as virus and epidemiology, while people are made to think that they are benefiting from memes and are compelled to keep spreading them. In the end, Gleick concludes that as much as people hate to admit, it is people who are enslaved by memes.
In Gleick’s work, memes can be all
In Gleick’s work, memes can be all