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Can a meme heal what therapy can't?

07.06.2025 09:42

Can a meme heal what therapy can't?

OK, so I recognize (I think) that this is basically a joke question. But! It gives me a chance to say something I’ve been thinking about for a while, which is that modern memes operate similarly to the way poetry used to, let’s say 100–200 years ago (and of course going back millennia). They’re an unexpected mirror held up to our lives. They provide a relatable, intimate, often vulnerable and revealing insight into the experience of being human, and do it in a bite-sized form that allows the person receiving it to have an immediate emotional response. (OK, usually that response is “omg, #mood” but…same idea!) In other words, like classic poetry about love or death or the beauty in a dewdrop, memes let us say “I see you and your experience” in a surprising and memorable way. Does that replace a trained and attuned therapist? Of course not. But if you need to be seen and told you’re not alone, and have your perspective shifted a bit to open up the world around you, then finding out that there exists a photo of an embarrassed dog with cheese on its head that perfectly expresses your current emotions….that’s definitely a step in the right direction!