Why Are TikTokers Comparing 'Don Toliver' To 'Dr. Nefario' From 'Despicable Me?' The Viral Meme Explained
The 2022 Winter Olympics are officially underway in Beijing, China. People around the world are enjoying their favorite, snow-covered competitions, however, many online this year are talking about the seemingly massive cooling towers looming in the background of the freestyle skiing event. The competition is called "Big Air" and it's placed right in front of a nearby power plant. This boring dystopia is omnipresent and has inspired multiple memes across social media.
Located on the west side of the city in Shougang, the Big Air slope is placed in front of a repurposed steel mill. Whether a creative idea or lack of better location, the setting has only inspired backlash thus far. Twitter users took to posting memes rather quickly after the event was aired. Many labeled it a "hellscape," citing a zoomed-out shot of the entire, monotone city. Others likened the scene to Breezewood, Pennsylvania, photoshopping the ski jump in front of the strip-mall chaos.
Hellscape pic.twitter.com/ZFXyEMc2pY
— ɐ͎ʞ͎ć͎ı͎ɹ͎ɐ͎ɯ͎ (@LeaMaric) February 7, 2022
Honestly … just lol. pic.twitter.com/b6xY2nolQW
— ɐ͎ʞ͎ć͎ı͎ɹ͎ɐ͎ɯ͎ (@LeaMaric) February 7, 2022
Why did you post a picture with manipulated perspective to make it seem as though the venue is surrounded by flowers?
— Flavored Cats (@tpwk47) February 7, 2022
Now this is more like it pic.twitter.com/KQhWH9UV5Z
— slammer (@FuknSlammer) February 7, 2022
— slammer (@FuknSlammer) February 8, 2022
There I fixed it pic.twitter.com/IbUf2AjDLL
— 21st Century 6th Dose Man (@belb54451413) February 7, 2022
— pain experiencer (@squadtanamobay) February 8, 2022
Right now, the Winter Olympics aren't as "winter-y" as some anticipated. Beijing is extremely dry this time of year, which many online have likened to climate change and the country's overall pollution rates. Some did reference this tension with a humorous tone but, of course, others offered a fresh rebuttal: that the U.S. is just as much of a capitalist hellscape. Overall, the memes mostly focused on the optics and the optics alone, turning the ski jump into an exploitable and referencing other infamous power plants like Homer's workplace in The Simpson's.
The Olympic logo on the industrial cooling tower is a nice touch
— Family Dweeb (@familydweeb) February 7, 2022
If it wasnt china id be into this nuclear aesthetic. It woukd be cool if the stack were even bigger and maybe a ramp goes down and or around one
— President Elect Zamuel42
887 (Zamuel42) February 8, 2022
I'm at the nuclear power plant. I'm at the Olympic ski jump. I'm at the combination nuclear power plant Olympic ski jump. pic.twitter.com/SrFRlf958f
— Meg Hunter-Kilmer (@MegHunterKilmer) February 8, 2022
I keep seeing this pic of the Olympic ski jump in China. Is this for real? Radio Active? Who will win the Gold, Silver or Plutonium medal? pic.twitter.com/ZyFpUIOGaG
— Steve Mudflap McGrew’s REMASCULATE Podcast! (@REMASCULATE) February 8, 2022
What year are you from, set? Is the future that bad?
— Chris Tavrou (@chris_tavrou) February 7, 2022
as opposed to the american alternative pic.twitter.com/dNQAOlaK4l
— s i mm o n s (@tomatothepotato) February 8, 2022
I keep seeing this pic of the Olympic ski jump in China. Is this for real? Radio Active? Who will win the Gold, Silver or Plutonium medal? pic.twitter.com/ZyFpUIOGaG
— Steve Mudflap McGrew’s REMASCULATE Podcast! (@REMASCULATE) February 8, 2022
So far, only the women's Big Air competition has taken place with the gold medalist for skiing being China's Eileen Gu. As the rest of the events at the location take place, only more and more obtuse screencaps will offer themselves up.
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