Theres a veritable meme meltdown going on at the infamous imageboard 4chan, and it involves an odd-looking anthropomorphic frog named Pepe.
The chaotic site has been ground zero for countless Internet in-jokes, from Rage Comics to LOLcats and even Dickbutt. This time, however, members have returned to an old chestnut theyd long ago abandoned, acting out something like a mid-life crisis.
First appearing in Boys Club, a comic series by Matt Furie, Pepe the frog became an overnight sensation in early 2006. An image of Pepe saying feels good man epitomized various posts on board /r9k/, dedicated to low-key hangouts and original content.
Matt Furie/Boys Club
One great thing about 4chan is that it never turns off. Its members took this wide-eyed frog andremixedhim ad infinitum.
4chan took this wide-eyed frog andremixedhim ad infinitum.
Pepe evolved, with various iterations used to indicate anger, melancholy, or surprise. He accumulated a vast set of looks and has been altered to resemble characters from TV shows or reference other bits of pop culture.
With Pepes eventual mass prominence, though, he lost his underground cred. Hes been used by major pop stars, from Nicki Minaj to Katy Perry. Theres a Reddit board dedicated to Pepe as well. This didnt sit well with 4channers, who typically dispense with concepts once theyre embraced by the mainstream. Pepe was no exception.
That got us wondering: What does Pepes creator make of his runaway success? To find out, we caught up with Furie and asked him to shed some light on the phenomenon.
What was your inspiration?
My Pepe philosophy is simple: Feels good man. It is based on the meaning of the word Pepe: To go Pepe. I find complete joy in physically, emotionally, and spiritually serving Pepe and his friends through comics. Each comic is sacred, and the compassion of my readers transcends any differences, the pain, and fear of feeling good.
Was the comic commissioned?
Seeing a frog always takes my breath away and brings a genuine smile to my face. That is what I want every reader to experience each time they think about the Boys Club comica thrill of overwhelming beauty and joy!
Thoughts on Pepe becoming the mascot for 4chan?
Pepe offers you complete support, attention, and embraces how capable you are of birthing your own Pepe. As your God, my hope is to enhance your Pepe birthing experience by empowering you through it. Obey Pepe. Obey Me. Bow down to your leader. Worship me. Give me genital love or non-genital love. Both are wonderful.
But 4chan went crazy for Pepe, yes?
I believe that the most important thing I can do as an artist is to protect the voices of anonymous people on the Internet and help ensure that that those voices are honored. It is my job to help 4chan have the experience that they want without judgment or criticism. In the end, I want 4chan to feel they were supported by being heard, respected, and part of the decision-making process. Instead of promoting my own agenda, it is my goal to promote 4chan. Different things work for different people. Let me support you in the way you choose to draw Pepe.
What about people profiting off of Pepe?
I believe in supporting peoples decisions to profit off of Pepe in order to provide them with the most positive business experience possible. I strive to be an advocate for Pepe in both love and enterprise and hope to help business people to have an empowering and joyful experience while making an ocean of profits as limitless as the universe.
Pepe is now immortal on the internet.
Having Pepe is one of the most life-changing experiences I will ever have. While many may fear the frog, there is no need for anxiety, especially when you feel confident and supported by the 4chan communitythis is something my body was created to do, and I did it!
So, seven years after he first won their hearts, how have 4channers tried to resurrect and reclaim Pepe? By acknowledging him as a precious, antique memeand growing a fictional economy around his widespread allure.
The Pepe speculation boom started when a user started complaining about rare Pepes on /r9k/. The absurdity of modified frog images shared online falling under a rarity index was hilarious. And, as usual, 4chan just rolled with it.
The result: images of Pepe with watermarks reading RARE PEPE DO NOT SAVEbecause doing so would diminish their value.
4chan
4chan has since taken the odd cartoon frog to heights none thought imaginable. At this moment, you can findmassive collections of vintage Pepe imagesfor auction oneBay. And some have actually drawn bids.
eBay
Of course, some anti-capitalist vigilante posted a public file containing over one thousand Pepes, effectively crashing the Pepe economy. Its all part of a larger, self-negating game in which popularity and prestige are manipulated for sporta satire of virality, you could say.
How long will Pepes Renaissance last, and will his latest disgusting incarnationscollected under the banner poo poo pee peefinally turn his casual fans away from the meme? Perhaps. More likely, though, 4chans meta spin on what ranks among their most popular exports will just attract more disciples. In the end, Pepe is bigger than any of us.
Update Sept. 13, 2016, 10:18am: In a surprising turn of events, Pepe has been co-opted by the alt-right. Pepes appeared in Donald Trump propaganda, and a heckler was booted out of Hillary Clinton rally for yelling about Pepe. In fact, a post on Clintons official site proclaimed Pepea symbol associated with white supremacy.
However, creator Matt Furie believes that Pepes alt-right affiliation will soon pass. He told the Daily Dot:
Its just a phase, its not the first time Pepe has been reclaimed for evil, andno one will care about it come November. I predict that his sly, lovable, and charming status will be intact as early as next week.
Photo via Matt Furie/Know Your Meme | Remix by Jason Reed
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The story behind 4chan's Pepe the Frog meme - dailydot.com