(Pre-discussion here, sort of. Link to survey in 5th post below.)
Technically, this is a matter for "Meme Research", but since it's not about a single meme, and since I'll get more attention here, I'm posting this in general. Video related:
The recent popularity of the Marilyn Hagerty meme has once again raised a question asked of a number of memes: Are we laughing with them, at them, or are we even laughing at all?
My intention is to put together a survey in which a number of memes are listed, and the responder is asked the above question. However, before making this survey, I wanted to open it up to discussion and suggestions.
The suggestions in particular that I'd like would be appropriate memes to include in the survey, particularly ones where it may not be clear what the source of the funny is, if indeed it is there at all. Off the top of my head, I'm thinking:
Marilyn Hagerty
Antoine Dodson
Basil Marceaux
"I like turtles" kid
Bear Grylls
Chuck Testa
Boxxy
Xzibit
Zangief Kid
Epic Beard Man
Trololo Guy
I guess other suggestions that might be helpful would be useful options beyond:
A) I'm laughing at them.
B) I'm laughing with them.
C) I'm not laughing at all.
D) I don't know.