Memes in 2010: Epic Beard Man

Memes in 2010: Epic Beard Man

A New American Folktale: Epic Beard Man



The legendary tale of Epic Beard Man began on a sunny day in February, when two passengers on an Oakland transit bus got into an argument-gone-fistfight, while another passenger recorded the incident with a smartphone and posted the video on YouTube. Much to the viewers' surprise, the fight ended up with the younger and more confrontational black man getting knocked out by the older and seemingly benign white man. Yet still left with many questions and incomplete information surrounding the actual event, what ensued was a simultaneous development of two stories, one of a heroic senior citizen with Herculean strength told by the Internet and another of Thomas Bruso, a belligerent Vietnam war veteran told by Bay Area news reporters.



KYMdb Image Collection


- Know Your Meme received several entry submissions on Epic Beard Man & AC Transit Fight, as well as dozens of videos and image macros relating to the meme. Check out the image gallery in KYMdb – Epic Beard Man for the latest collection.


Images 195 total + Add an Image U Can't touch this BUT THEN I WAS F--- YEA He's a I SAID AMBULANCE OLD PEOPLEKICK ASS 1 1 2 .. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 〈〉

Development in Themes


KYM ANALYSIS: EVOLUTION OF EPIC BEARD MAN YOUTUBE UPLOAD TOM'S BEARD & ATTIRE EPIC BEARD MAN THE FIGHT TOM BRUSO MICHAEL'S QUOTE IYANNA's COMMENT ARCADE REMIXES M&M AMBER LAMPS OPERATION: I'M A M------------ DEBATE ON RACE

Highlights


- In first 24 hours of upload by the passenger / witness Iyanna Washington, the video gains one million plus views on YouTube.

Total Views: 4,931,117 5M 4M 3M 2M 1M 0215/2010 07/21/2010 12/23/2010 Ratings: 33875 Likes: 32944 Dislikes: 931 D Comments: 89,218 Favorites: 53.121 ] Links Date Link A Feb 20, 2010 First embedded on - www.urlesque.com B Feb 17, 2010 First embedded on -www.mediatakeout.com â“’ Feb 17. 2010 First embedded on-knowyourmeme.com D Feb 17, 2010 First embedded on - deadspin.com E Feb 16, 2010 First view from a mobile device F Feb 16, 2010 First referral from YouTube -/verify_age â‘¥Feb 16. 2010 First referral from-www.facebook.com H Feb 16, 2010 First embedded on- boston.barstoolsports.com Views 153,086 146,474 138,311 81,575 166,017 146,889 130,622 79,851 SOURCE: YOUTUBE


- Instant catchphrases like "I am a mother f**ker" and "I will slap your shit!" dominate the image macros on 4chan, while many popular video remixes parodied the fight in style of 90s Japanese fighting arcade games.



l am a m----------- JAX IiImIII SCORE 000000 LI

- Because of Tom's beard & display of incredible strength, the senior man was dubbed "Epic Beard Man" by Anonymous.


805NL 2 EPIC BEARD MAN dont mess with Santa EPIC BEARDS Evil has nowhere to hide.

- Some viewers speculated alternative interpretations of Michael's mumbly request for ambulance ("Bring the ambulance"), namely "Bring Da M&Ms" & "Bring Da Amber Lamps."


805 Epic Beard Man You'll need an amblance THANKS FOR BRINGING ME THIS AMBER LAMP

- YouTube drama broke out between Anonymous and the videographer Iyanna Washington, leading to the launch of Anonymous' Operation: I am a Motherf**ker.


SAY IT GEN PINKY CREATE APOLOGY VIDEO FORGET ABOUTRACS COMMENT memegenerator.net SAY, "BEAT THAT WHITE ASS" CLAIM YOU'RE NOT RACIST memegenerator.net

- Identity of Epic Beard Man revealed as Vietnam war veteran Thomas Bruso, infamous in Oakland for his reputation of belligerence.


I LOVE GETTING MY SHOES SHINED WITH THE WARM SMELL OF BLOOD WAFTING THROUGH THE AIR, SMELLS LIKE VICTORY! It's a letter from home My girl, Amber Lamps... She says she doesn't care. SIGH Must bring Amber Lam VIETNA M ETNAM ON YA Vietnam! Vietnam! Vietnam MOTHERPO

- YouTube comments section ran amok with arguments on issues of race relations and war veterans, but most YouTube video responses gave kudos to the bearded older gentleman.


- Epic Beard Man phenomenon also resulted in the creation of several single-serving sites, including iamamotherfucker.com" with the message "find the bag and return it", thomasbruso.com, epicbeardman.com that says "EPIC BEARD MAN sup /b/" and related entries on MemeGenerator and Encyclopedia Dramatica.


- Tribute images continue, Mysterious female spectator in the background becomes associated with Amber Lamps.


RIVERSIOE TWINL FHEATER TOM SLICK AND THE AMBER LAMPS OPENING "AC TRANSIT http://www.says-it.com/marquee/ CT0210 GA 1 ADULT $0.00 GEN ADMISSION $0.00 C39012THE CITY OF OAKLAND, CA PRESENTS GA CL 3X FEAT. HIT SINGLE "HE LEAKING" TOM SLICK THE ANBER LANPS SPECIAL GUEST: AC TRANSIT CTG3991 CAMERAS/RECORDERS ALLOWED 16FEB19 TUE 16 FEB 2018 2:30PM om/concertticket

- Nathan Maas has made a mini documentary series called I Am A Motherfucker.



More Meme Reviews

And don't forget to check out the rest of 2010 meme reviews!


- KYM Blog – Memes in 2010: Downfall
- KYM Blog – Memes in 2010: Effing Magnets
- KYM Blog – Memes in 2010: Douel Rainbow
- KYM Blog – Memes in 2010: Antoine Dodson
- KYM Monthly Review – Complete Listing of Past Issues




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