Memes have provided a new layer of understanding between people, especially on social media platforms where they are widely used.
Among these memes is one called the Galaxy Brain or Expanding Brain meme that has become popular in recent years, and has seen many adaptations in the process.
However, if you have ever wondered where this meme began or what it truly means, here are five facts about this meme format:
1. The Meme Can Be Taken In A Quite Literal Sense
According to Pop Sugar, the Galaxy Brain Meme is making the internet obsessed about illustrating how smart people are, but in a funny way.
In some way, this meme format can be taken in a quite literal sense as it shows the sign of intellectual superiority with the series of images showing differently simulated brain waves.
It often implies that there is a higher standard of thinking for those with "smaller brains," as compared to those with "bigger brains."
2. It Is One Of The Predecessors Of The Layers Of Irony Meme
While the meme can be interpreted literally, Know Your Meme writes that the Expanding Brain meme can also be looked at ironically to imply the opposite.
It shows how absurd it actually is when objects of derision are implied to be of a higher standard than objects which are just plain and usual.
With this, the Galaxy meme gave birth to the Layers of Irony Meme, which is a four-panel comic that follows a set form based on a "vaporwave" or the irony within oneself.
3. The Meme Is Based On The Myth That Humans Only Use 10% Of Their Brain
The New York Magazine says that the Galaxy or Expanding Brain meme is, in fact, based on the myth that humans use only 10% of their brains.
The meme comically illustrates the possibilities of what a fully functional brain can do, as seen in the most famous iteration of the meme.
Looking at the pictures used in the meme, they look like they illustrate the supposed effect of cognitive enhancement on people.
4. It Began As An Elaboration Of The Variations of 'Who'
The Galaxy Brain meme is most known for showing how allegedly smarter people use the different and more complicated versions of the word "who."
The original version of the meme that spread and became famous in 2017 shows how when a person uses "whomst", a less intelligent person will be using "who," while a smarter person uses "whomst'd've."
5. There Are Many Memes Similar To It
According to Know Your Meme, many similar memes came before and after the peak of the Expanding Brain meme with various contexts and characters.
One variation of the meme is a Vince McMahon Reaction meme, where screen grabs of the personality from a video are used in place of the galaxy brain picture.
Other versions of this meme include the Motion Blurred Astronaut meme and a comic panel meme version of a Sprite Commercial featuring Drake.
