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Revision as of 19:40, 27 December 2024 by Sirooosh (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Bending Streetlight Meme is a cartoon artwork that is also known as an internet meme
Bending Streetlight meme
Bending Streetlight is a piece of digital art created by Iranian artist Mojtaba Heidarpanah. The artwork depicts two men sitting on a park bench under a streetlight. One man is reading a book, while the other is using a smartphone. The beam of light from the streetlight bends unnaturally to shine only on the man with the book, leaving the man with the phone in darkness.
Origin and spread
Heidarpanah first shared the artwork on Twitter on May 5, 2019, stating that it was created for a book festival. The image quickly gained attention, receiving over 160 retweets and 1,600 likes. Shortly after, it was posted on Reddit, where it was mocked for its perceived simplistic message of "phones bad, books good"
Meme evolution
The image became popular on various meme-based subreddits, where users recontextualized it to create new meanings. For example, it was used to depict situations where something or someone receives preferential treatment over another. One notable example is a meme comparing the streetlight's light to a microwave heating a plate instead of food.
Meaning and usage
The original artwork's message is clear: it suggests that reading books is more valuable than using smartphones. However, as a meme, it has been used to highlight various forms of bias or misplaced priorities. The meme format allows users to label the characters and the light to fit different contexts, often humorously.
Notable mentions
The Bending Streetlight meme has been widely used on social media platforms, including Twitter. High-profile users such as Elon Musk and famous users have shared variations of the meme, further increasing its popularity
References
- "برگزیدگان جشنواره ملی کتاب و کاریکاتور معرفی شدند". ایبنا (in Persian). 2018-11-17. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
- "کتاب سال | موسسه خانه کتاب". ketabsal.ketab.ir. Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
- "hafteyeketab|هفته کتاب". hafteyeketab.ketab.ir. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
- vektorog (2019-05-18). "phones bad amirite". r/im14andthisisdeep. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
- Littning (2019-08-27). "Ah that's hot". r/dankmemes. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
- DogeDesigner @cb_doge. "Mainstream media summed up 🤣 @elonmusk".