Image macro
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In Internet culture, an image macro is an image superimposed with text for humorous effect.[1]
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Etymology and usage [edit]
The term "image macro" originated from websites like the Something Awful forums and possibly other Internet sites.[2][1] The name derived from the fact that the 'macros' were a short bit of text a user could enter that the forum software would automatically parse and expand into the code for a pre-defined image,[2] relating to the computer science topic of a macro, defined as "a rule or pattern that specifies how a certain input sequence (often a sequence of characters) should be mapped to an output sequence (also often a sequence of characters) according to a defined procedure."
Beginning in 2007, lolcats and similar image macros (a form of Internet phenomena) spread beyond the initial communities who created them and became widely popular.[1]
Usage on Internet forums [edit]
On Internet forums and imageboards, image macros are used to emphasize a certain phrase (often an Internet meme) by superimposing it over a related picture. For some time on the Something Awful forums, the use of a preset "macro" text would insert a corresponding image into the forum post. This allowed the frequent use of preset text such as [img-timeline], which resulted in the "Timeline of history" image being banned from use as well as the usage of "img-timeline" to mean that "something is old news".[3]
Formats [edit]
Although they come in many forms, the most common type of image macro is a photograph with large text superimposed in Impact font, using all upper case letters and coloured white with a thin black outline. Exaggerated, intentional spelling errors are also used frequently for humorous effect.
One of the more famous image macros is "O RLY?" O RLY is often used on the internet as an abbreviation for the phrase "Oh, really?" Originally started with a snowy owl photograph (which is the classic O RLY image macro),[4] it spread out over the Web quickly and was followed by other macros that convey a wide range of emotions. Another style of image macro that has amassed its own separate subculture is the "lolcat", an image combining a photograph of a cat with text intended to contribute humour. The text is often idiosyncratic and grammatically incorrect, and its use in this way is known as "lolspeak" or "kitty pidgin".[5]
See also [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Memes and image macros |
References [edit]
- ^ a b c Rutkoff, Aaron (2007-08-25). "With 'LOLcats' Internet Fad, Anyone Can Get In on the Joke". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ^ a b "SAClopedia entry for "image macro"". Something Awful SAClopedia. Retrieved 2008-07-28.(registration required)
- ^ He of One Letter (2009-12-26). "img-timeline". Urban Dictionary. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
- ^ Stephen Phillips (2006-01-18). "Internet Term of the Week". The Independent Tiger Weekly. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
- ^ Dwight Silverman (2007-06-06). "Web photo phenomenon centers on felines, poor spelling". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
