The term "meme" (IPA: ), coined in 1976 by Richard Dawkins, refers to a replicator of cultural information that one mind transmits (verbally or by demonstration) to another mind. Dawkins said, Examples of memes are tunes, catch-phrases, clothes fashions, ways of making pots or of building arches. Other examples include deities, concepts, ideas, theories, opinions, beliefs, practices, habits, dances and moods which propagate within a culture. A meme propagates itself as a unit of cultural evolution analogous in many ways to the gene (the unit of genetic information). Often memes propagate as more-or-less integrated cooperative sets or groups, referred to as memeplexes or meme-complexes.

Some proponents of memes suggest that memes have, as a fundamental property, evolution via natural selection — in a way very similar to Charles Darwin's ideas concerning biological evolution — on the premise that replication, mutation, survival and competition influence them. For example, while one idea may become extinct, other ideas will survive, spread and mutate — for better or for worse — through modification.

Some meme-theorists contend that memes most beneficial to their hosts will not necessarily survive; rather, those memes which replicate the most effectively spread best; which allows for the possibility that successful memes might prove detrimental to their hosts.

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NPR Topics: Politics & Society

The Long Historic Tale Of Aug. 28
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:15:00 -0400
When Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination in his bid to become the first African-American president, he'll join icons who made history on Aug. 28, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Emmett Till and even John Hinckley Jr.
What Exactly Went Wrong For Clinton
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0400
In any other year, Hillary Clinton would have won the Democratic nomination, says Politico.com's Roger Simon. He breaks down the Clinton campaign's missteps — at the forefront, a simple lack of staff experience.
In Minnesota, Two Dreams
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0400
On the anniversary of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech, we meet with two families — each striving for the American dream. Though they live just 10 miles apart, they face very different circumstances. One is well off, the other poor; one is black, one white. But they both value education and want a better life for their children.

The Talk of the Town

Lauren Collins: The Brooklyn painter Kehinde Wiley.
Lauren Collins Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
The painter Kehinde Wiley first travelled to Nigeria in 1997. He was trying to find his father, whom he had never met, or, more crucially for a portraitist, seen. (His mother didn’t have any photographs.) After several weeks in Lagos, he found his dad, who welcomed him. But--like any . . .
James Surowiecki: What drives market volatility?
James Surowiecki Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
American investors are frazzled. True, oil prices have fallen from their most vertiginous highs, the dollar is a bit stronger, and the stock market has actually risen over the past month. But none of those things have happened in a smooth and steady fashion. The stock market’s “ascent,” in particular . . .
Hendrik Hertzberg: What Barack Obama is up against.
Hendrik Hertzberg Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
The week before the week before this week’s scheduled gathering of the delegates and their media camp followers in Denver, the nominee-presumptive of the Democratic Party did something that is strongly recommended, and ought to be mandatory, for anyone who has just logged a year and a half’s worth . . .

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