Meme vs. Trope — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 30, 2024
A meme is a cultural idea or behavior that spreads virally, while a trope is a common or overused theme or device in literature and media.
Difference Between Meme and Trope
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Memes are units of cultural information that replicate and spread among people, often via the internet. Whereas tropes are recognizable themes, motifs, or clichés that recur across various forms of media and are used to convey particular meanings or ideas effectively.
Memes can be images, videos, phrases, or any form of media that gains popularity and is widely shared and modified. On the other hand, tropes serve as storytelling shortcuts, helping audiences quickly understand characters, plots, and settings through familiar patterns.
The concept of memes was popularized by Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene," where he described memes as cultural analogues to genes in biological evolution. In contrast, tropes have been analyzed in literary and cinematic contexts for their role in structuring narrative and conveying complex ideas through standardized elements.
Memes often gain their strength from humor, irony, and rapid adaptability, reflecting current social and political climates. Whereas tropes might be criticized for being predictable or stereotypical, but they also provide a framework that can be creatively subverted or reinterpreted.
In the digital age, memes are a significant part of online communication, influencing marketing, politics, and social interaction. While tropes continue to be a fundamental aspect of creative writing, film-making, and game design, aiding in the development of genre conventions and audience expectations.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A cultural item that spreads virally.
A commonly used theme or device in media.
Origin
Coined by Richard Dawkins, 1976.
From the Greek "tropos," meaning turn or way.
Usage
Social media, internet culture.
Literature, film, media analysis.
Function
Spreads quickly, often humorously.
Helps audiences understand media quickly.
Criticism
Can be superficial or transient.
May be seen as clichéd or overused.
Compare with Definitions
Meme
An idea that behaves like a virus, spreading between people.
The concept of paying it forward is a meme that promotes an ongoing cycle of kindness.
Trope
A figure of speech, especially one that uses words in non-literal ways.
Metaphors and similes are tropes used to make descriptions more vivid.
Meme
A piece of content that spreads rapidly online, often altered by users.
The dancing baby meme became one of the earliest viral sensations on the internet.
Trope
A convention or device that establishes immediate context.
The trope of the mad scientist characterizes many horror and science fiction stories.
Meme
A social symbol or practice passed among people.
Handshake rituals can be considered as memes in traditional and business cultures.
Trope
An element that quickly conveys meaning in storytelling.
Using a dark and stormy night to set the mood is a classic trope in Gothic novels.
Meme
Any fad or trend that proliferates through copying.
The ice bucket challenge was a meme that spread to raise awareness and funds for ALS.
Trope
A recurring literary or cinematic motif or cliché.
The rags to riches story is a common trope in literature and film.
Meme
A cultural artifact that propagates through imitation.
Popular catchphrases from movies often turn into widely recognized memes.
Trope
An overused theme or plot device.
The damsel in distress is a trope often criticized for its portrayal of women in media.
Meme
A meme ( MEEM) is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular phenomenon or theme. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices, that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme.
Trope
A figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression
My sense that philosophy has become barren is a recurrent trope of modern philosophy
Perhaps it is a mistake to use tropes and parallels in this eminently unpoetic age
Both clothes and illness became tropes for new attitudes toward the self
Meme
An element of a culture or system of behaviour passed from one individual to another by imitation or other non-genetic means.
Trope
A figure of speech using words in nonliteral ways, such as a metaphor.
Meme
An image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by Internet users, often with slight variations.
Trope
A word or phrase interpolated as an embellishment in the sung parts of certain medieval liturgies.
Meme
A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.
Trope
A theme, motif, plot, or literary device that commonly recurs within a genre or work of fiction, especially when considered clichéd
“Finding the corrosion under the waxed-and-polished chassis of small-town America is itself an old trope” (James Poniewozik).
Meme
An image or short video clip, often accompanied by a humorous saying or popular catchphrase, that is transmitted virally, especially on social media.
Trope
An often recurring idea or image
“In our conversations, there was a running theme, a trope, of economic havoc, of drowned cities, of time running out” (Jon Gertner).
Meme
A humorous saying or popular catchphrase that is transmitted virally, especially as a caption for such an image or video clip.
Trope
Something recurring across a genre or type of art or literature, such as the ‘mad scientist’ of horror movies or the use of the phrase ‘once upon a time’ as an introduction to fairy tales; a motif.
Meme
(originally) Any unit of (originally cultural) information, such as a practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another in a comparable way to the transmission of genes.
Trope
(medieval Christianity) An addition (of dialogue, song, music, etc.) to a standard element of the liturgy, serving as an embellishment.
Meme
(Internet) Media, usually humorous, which is copied and circulated online with slight adaptations, such as basic pictures, video templates, etc.
Trope
(rhetoric) A figure of speech in which words or phrases are used with a nonliteral or figurative meaning, such as a metaphor.
Meme
(Internet) A specific instance of a meme, such as an image macro or a video, often with humorous superimposed text.
This meme generator lets you make your own memes by adding a caption to existing images, or by uploading your own image.
I'm always posting memes on the groupchat.
Trope
(geometry) Mathematical senses.
Meme
Something not to be taken seriously; a joke.
It's a meme degree, you know. Good luck getting a job from that.
Jogging is a meme.
Trope
A tangent space meeting a quartic surface in a conic.
Meme
Granny; nana
Trope
(archaic) The reciprocal of a node on a surface.
Meme
To create and use humorous memes.
Trope
(music) Musical senses.
Meme
To turn into a meme; to use a meme, especially to achieve a goal in real life.
To meme into existence
Trope
A short cadence at the end of the melody in some early music.
Meme
To joke around.
Trope
A pair of complementary hexachords in twelve-tone technique.
Meme
A cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one generation to another by nongenetic means (as by imitation);
Memes are the cultrual counterpart of genes
Trope
(Judaism) A cantillation pattern, or one of the marks that represents it.
Trope
(philosophy) Philosophical senses.
Trope
(Greek philosophy) Any of the ten arguments used in skepticism to refute dogmatism.
Trope
(metaphysics) A particular instance of a property (such as the specific redness of a rose), as contrasted with a universal.
Trope
(transitive) To use, or embellish something with, a trope.
Trope
(transitive) Senses relating chiefly to art or literature.
Trope
To represent something figuratively or metaphorically, especially as a literary motif.
Trope
To turn into, coin, or create a new trope.
Trope
To analyse a work in terms of its literary tropes.
Trope
(intransitive) To think or write in terms of tropes.
Trope
The use of a word or expression in a different sense from that which properly belongs to it; the use of a word or expression as changed from the original signification to another, for the sake of giving life or emphasis to an idea; a figure of speech.
In his frequent, long, and tedious speeches, it has been said that a trope never passed his lips.
Trope
Language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense
Common Curiosities
What is the primary difference between a meme and a trope?
Memes are cultural elements that spread rapidly online, often humorously, whereas tropes are recurring literary or cinematic themes used to convey familiar ideas.
How do memes spread?
Memes spread through sharing on social media, often gaining popularity due to their relatable or humorous content.
Can memes influence popular culture?
Yes, memes significantly impact popular culture by shaping trends, humor, and social commentary.
Are tropes only found in literature and movies?
No, tropes are also prevalent in other media forms, including television, comics, and video games, wherever storytelling elements are employed.
Why are tropes important in storytelling?
Tropes help streamline storytelling by using familiar patterns that assist audiences in understanding character types, plot developments, and thematic elements.
Is relying on tropes considered lazy writing?
Overreliance on tropes can be seen as lazy writing, but when used creatively, tropes can enhance storytelling by building on audience expectations.
What role do memes play in communication?
Memes act as a form of social currency in digital communication, enabling users to express opinions, emotions, and cultural identity succinctly and often humorously.
What are some examples of visual tropes?
Visual tropes include the shadowy figure in horror, the silhouette of lovers in romance, and the lone hero in westerns.
Can a meme become a trope?
While memes and tropes are different, a popular meme can influence media and storytelling, potentially leading to trope-like usage in certain contexts.
Can the use of tropes in media be harmful?
Misused or stereotypical tropes can perpetuate harmful biases and diminish the quality of storytelling, although they also offer opportunities for critique and discussion.
How are memes used in marketing?
Brands often use memes for marketing to connect with younger audiences and appear culturally relevant and engaging.
How do creators use tropes effectively?
Creators use tropes to quickly establish expectations or to subvert them, adding depth or surprise to the narrative.
What is a meta-trope?
A meta-trope is a trope about tropes, often used to discuss, analyze, or satirize the use of conventional motifs in media.
How has the internet changed the nature of memes?
The internet has exponentially increased the speed and scope of meme distribution, making them a global phenomenon that can arise and evolve within hours.
Why do some memes fade quickly while others remain relevant?
Memes that resonate deeply with cultural or emotional truths tend to last longer, while those based on fleeting trends or specific events may fade quickly.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
