Fame is no longer limited to movie stars or musicians at the top of the charts in a highly interconnected world and instantaneously consumable. A character in a sitcom from fifteen years ago or a minor villain in a movie can become highly recognized worldwide. How? Through memes. We live in a time of "mummification"—the act of removing a character from their original portrayal, and then that character becomes something entirely new in digital form and is often circulated widely. The mummification of roles, when characters become digital symbols of some kind, can tell us a lot about how we consume, re-create, and memorialize pop culture through humor and virality. This essay will examine how meme characters are created, how they spread virally, and the social context behind the parody of roles and viral characters in a time of internet culture.
Mummification refers to the act of a character, moment, or line from a film, TV program, or even video game becoming an internet meme—generally, it is humorous, exaggerated, or repurposed. It is worth noting that meme roles do not need to be leading roles—many meme characters are background characters or one-liners, resulting in that character becoming the meme solely based on relatability, absurdity, or timing.
You might think about it as all digital folklore. Just as myths and symbols emerged from oral storytelling, 21st-century meme culture (through one or many social platforms) can transform or reimagine content in style, time, or perception and move that character totally away from the perceived design of its origin.
There are many reasons why characters turn into meme icons. It could be the character's expressive facial response (like Pedro Pascal eating a sandwich) and outlandish performance (like Willem Dafoe in The Lighthouse), or the quote is taken thoroughly out of context (it's "Morbin' Time," from Morbius—which was also not a line spoken in the movie).
Here’s how the transition happens:
A meme character begins with a visual or verbal moment that’s easy to clip, screenshot, or quote. It's usually emotionally exaggerated or strangely specific—perfect for online parody.
Whether it's a character’s awkwardness, pettiness, or chaotic energy, they often reflect emotions audiences feel but rarely express, making them ideal meme fodder.
The best memes have longevity. They can be repurposed across scenarios—personal rants, political commentary, or pop culture debates.
The internet loves remix culture. A single image can spawn thousands of variations, each fitting a new context. The more remixable the meme, the faster it spreads.
Let’s look at a few legendary meme roles that have completely transformed how we perceive the original characters:
Once just a cherished animated ogre, Shrek has become a humorous internet icon. His image has been associated with everything from not-your-mainstream humor to absurdist nihilism; the mummification of Shrek embodies how the internet takes childhood nostalgia and twists it into something hysterically absurd.
Initially a photo of a digitally altered beefcake model, Giga Chad now represents the epitome of hyper-masculinity—used humorously and sometimes seriously. He's not attached to a film and exists solely as a meme symbol of a level of alpha male masculinity that can never be real.
Despite a lukewarm reception, Morbius achieved meme status through lines like "It's Morbin's time" (which he never actually says). The joke snowballed, so Sony re-released the film in theaters, only to flop again.
Whether it's Joaquin Phoenix saying, "You wouldn't get it," or Heath Ledger saying, "Why so serious?", The Joker has become a meme in a range of directions, from incel humor to political commentary. He's not just a villain; he's a vessel for every form of digital expression.
Ben Affleck wasn’t even in character when he went viral. A photo of him smoking a cigarette, eyes closed in existential despair, became the definitive symbol of burnout. It demonstrates how the memeification of roles can blur the line between actor and persona.
Meme characters aren’t just jokes—they serve as modern-day symbols with distinct social functions:
People use memes to cope with stress, social anxieties, and political chaos. A well-timed meme role like “This Is Fine” Dog helps people process existential dread with a dose of dark humor.
Meme roles often reflect public sentiment. For example, Kermit sipping tea isn’t just about gossip—it’s about passively aggressively pointing out hypocrisies.
Sometimes, meme culture adds ironic depth to flat characters. Star Wars, Anakin Skywalker, and his infamous “I hate sand” quote have been reclaimed as both cringe and iconic. It invites audiences to participate in reinterpreting the narrative.
In the age of mummification, fame isn’t granted—it’s named. Characters that were overlooked or mocked can be given new cultural relevance by online communities.
Role parody plays a massive role in why characters go viral. The internet thrives on reinterpreting a character’s original traits in exaggerated or inverted ways:
These parodies aren’t just playful—they often hold a mirror to the absurdity of modern life and media consumption.
Several trends in internet culture drive the rapid mummification of roles:
TikTok and Instagram Reels make cutting and sharing character clips easy with added audio or text overlays. One expressive line can turn into a soundbite heard worldwide.
New tech allows users to generate voiceovers or face swaps with iconic characters. Imagine Darth Vader rapping or Gandalf giving relationship advice. The surreal remix potential is limitless.
Meme roles thrive in comment sections and reaction threads. When characters can encapsulate an entire mood or response, they get immortalized in digital shorthand.
Each fandom has its meme characters, and these figures often act as internal jokes or identity markers. For instance:
These inside jokes help fans bond and reinforce a shared culture, transforming character virality into digital identity.
As digital spaces evolve, memeification will continue to shape how we consume and reinterpret media. Expect:
We’re entering an era where a character’s digital afterlife may outshine their on-screen presence—and that’s not necessarily bad. In many ways, it’s the ultimate tribute from fans.
The mummification of roles—when characters become online symbols—is more than internet fun. It’s a powerful form of digital storytelling. These characters, reshaped and reimagined by millions, live beyond the confines of their original scripts. They become memes, yes—but also icons, in-jokes, emotional shorthand, and cultural reflections.
Meme roles show us that stories don’t end with credits—they evolve endlessly in the hands of audiences who remix, parody, and celebrate them. In this new mythology of the internet age, every character has the potential to become a legend—one screenshot, quote, or TikTok at a time.
This content was created by AI