Category: best
People Are Cracking Up At These 50 Medieval Memes Made By A History Professor
October 7, 2024
While memes might seem synonymous with modern life in general and the internet in particular, they are just one of the ways we try to encapsulate a feeling or mood in something that’s easy to share. But truth be told, our ancestors were not that different from us in many ways.
The “Medievalist Matt” Instagram page is dedicated to everything from interesting facts to hilarious and relatable memes. We got in touch with its admin and creator, Matthew Ponesse, Professor of History at Ohio Dominican University, to learn more. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts in the comments section below.
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Bored Panda got in touch with Matthew Ponesse, Professor of History at Ohio Dominican University who created and still runs the page. Given that it has thousands and thousands of followers, we wanted to hear his opinion on what makes it so popular.
“I think humor is the main attraction. There is so much stress and anxiety in our daily lives. I think my page offers a bit of relief from the daily challenges that we all face. Secondly, the nature of communication has changed drastically in the last decade. People value memes not only as a source of entertainment, but for how they respond to current events or social phenomena.”
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“Memes provide a light-hearted or irreverent commentary on the issues of our day. I try to stay on top of current affairs and cultural changes, and occasionally respond to them through my memes. Lastly, I think people are fascinated by the unknown. There is much about the Middle Ages that people are unfamiliar with. When brought into contact with our culture, medieval ideas and images can appear bizarre, strange, and hilarious, especially when taken out of context.”
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Naturally, we wanted to hear more about why he chose to focus on the Medieval ages in particular. “When I was younger, I was fascinated by the differences of medieval life. Castles and knights, serfs and peasants, pilgrims and heretics. It all seemed so fantastic and otherworldly. However, as I came to learn about the Middle Ages, I began to notice how very little humans have changed over time.”
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“We still ponder the same questions, cultivate the same ambitions, and attempt to overcome the same challenges. Now, I take delight in how familiar it all is. Perhaps this is why my memes are relatively successful. I approach medieval art as a reflection of our own world. I may exaggerate the connections at times, or perhaps see things that are clearly not intended. But my motivation is to connect the past and the present in a meaningful way.”
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Many of us have a picture of what the Medieval ages were like, but it’s generally a mishmash of outdated ideas and Hollywood cliches, so we wanted to hear some common misconceptions Matthew has encountered when it comes to the past. “The greatest misconception I have encountered is that the medieval period was a dark age characterized by ignorance, superstition, chronic warfare, abusive leaders, and a church opposed to new ideas and progress.”
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“When you study the Middle Ages, you can’t help but appreciate the vitality of its peoples and the richness of their cultures. This was a dynamic time filled with growth, innovation, and scientific advancement,” he shared with Bored Panda.
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“Cities flourished, cathedral spires reached the sky, scholars advanced our understanding of the world, and merchants and traders flourished. True, there was war and disease. Yes, injustice occurred (as it continues to today). But characterizing the Middle Ages as a time of darkness misses the real story.”
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He had a few last thoughts. “People sometimes tell me that a particular meme made them laugh out loud in an inappropriate place like a doctor’s office or a meeting, and that the whole room turned to look at them strangely. I just want everyone to know that I consider this greatest compliment.”
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“Bored Panda Best Comment Awards”: 50 Funny Times The Comments Made Our Posts So Much Better (New Pics)
February 7, 2022
Ah, the comment section—it’s full of life. Sometimes, people there spark conversations about a variety of social issues. Other times, they’re going livid over someone else’s opinion. Or maybe they’re simply enjoying a spicy argument and, of course, grabbing a box of metaphorical popcorn along the way. And when the comments tend to go from plain insulting to inspiring in mere seconds, we’re sure glad they’re there.
Our readers have proven time and again how curious, funny, and wholesome they can be. Some of you commenters offer even better content than the picture itself. To celebrate your creativity and wit, we have compiled a list of some of the best and most upvoted comments we found floating around our page.
We here at Bored Panda love clever humor, and we know that you do too. So continue scrolling, see if yours made the list, and share even more hilarious wisdom under the pics below! Also, be sure to check out Part 1 of this post right here.
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To learn more about witty comments and how to improve our comedy skills, we spoke to Abigail Paul, a standup comedian, improviser, and actress with an irreverent and original comedy brain. Having performed improvisation, standup comedy, and theatre in venues all over Germany, the US, and the EU, she was kind enough to share her thoughts on why people leave comments in the first place.
“Today’s reader has the advantage over their predecessor that they feel part of the action,” she said. “In comedy, we are always looking to create content that an audience member will relate to, so when someone leaves a fantastic comment on an article or picture, it helps us feel connected, a little less alone.”
“It shows us that someone else, maybe many people, think the same way we do,” Abigail mentioned. “We take great comfort in not being alone on our ideas.”
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The standup comedian revealed that the secret to a successful comment is probably equal parts true and surprising. An unexpected remark “that just has shock value isn’t as highly regarded as one that is embedded in truth.”
“In comedy terms, your picture or article you are commenting on is your setup. Your witty comment is the punchline,” she explained. “There are lots of ways to be funny, but a great punchline will usually have excellent use of wordplay, exaggeration, or make an analogy to something else so the reader can maybe see the topic in a new light.”
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“The most important thing is usually an element of surprise. Good comedy writers use misdirect as well as a magician does. We think we see you going to one place and you go somewhere unexpected. Audiences love a twist,” Abigail said, providing true crime podcasts as an example.
According to her, leaving a comment and letting out a few chuckles helps us bond with others. “Comedy is the most fun thing humans can share (besides pizza),” she said. “The pandemic has forced a lot of comedy experiences online. It hurt live comedy a lot, but new spaces have thrived online because people need to connect and laugh. The upside is you can find ways to be funny at home in your PJs.”
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If you want to improve at writing clever comments online, you need to practice. “Comedy is a skill,” Abigail told us. “The more you write, the better you usually get.” But it’s important “not to get too precious about your work. Notice which clever comments you are writing get lots of likes or replies, and see if you can dissect why that comment is working.”
“If something isn’t working, don’t worry too much about why. A lot of good writing is throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks.” She advised you to focus on what works and try to replicate your own formula. “Also – edit. Are there any words you can take out, but the comment is still really funny? Then do. The more concise you are, the better it is for your reader.”
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Abigail is now busy with her new organization in Frankfurt called English Comedy Frankfurt, aiming to bring fun shows with diverse audiences and comedians. So if you want some tips on writing for standup, be sure to check out her website and follow her work on Twitter.
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