Introduction
The popular meme of Gonker the dog originated in 2019 from a video posted to Twitter. The 7-second clip showed a light brown dog with pointy ears sitting upright staring intensely at the camera. For unknown reasons, the peculiar stare of this dog struck a chord with viewers and quickly inspired countless memes, edits, and jokes across social media platforms.
While the original video did not name the dog, internet users dubbed him “Gonker” based on his intense gaze. As the meme spread, Gonker became known for his bizarre, unblinking stare and humorous editing into various photos and videos. His unique appearance and funny edits helped propel Gonker into one of the biggest canine memes in recent years.
Origin of the Meme
The Gonker meme originated from a series of photos of a fluffy Samoyed dog named “Boo” posing with his tongue sticking out of his mouth. The original photos were taken by Boo’s owner and posted to Facebook and Instagram in 2010. Boo quickly gained popularity online for his adorable facial expressions and fluffy appearance.
In late 2015, the photos began spreading across Reddit, Tumblr and other social platforms, morphing into viral meme format with captions added. The name “Gonker” became associated with the meme, derived from the dog’s silly facial expression resembling someone making a “gonk” sound with their mouth. The photos were edited into various scenarios for humorous effect. By 2016, many derivatives of the original Boo photos were spreading under names like “Gonker the Dog,” cementing its status as a full-fledged internet meme.
Popularity and Spread
The meme featuring Gonker the dog took off in popularity in 2021, spreading rapidly across social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and TikTok.
It started when the original video featuring Gonker was posted to TikTok in early 2021. The short clip shows Gonker staring intensely at a plate of food, set to dramatic background music. The video went viral, gaining millions of views and likes.
People on TikTok began creating their own versions of the meme by setting the clip of Gonker to different songs and sounds. The meme then spread to other platforms like Twitter and Reddit, where people started making jokes and memes using the image and likeness of Gonker.
Variations of the meme with Gonker photoshopped into different images and situations began circulating online. His intense staring expression made him the perfect reaction image. Some of the most popular versions of the meme featured Gonker staring at things like food, toys, or other animals.
The meme spread through reposts and shares as people altered the image and context for comedic effect. Gonker’s popularity continued to grow across social media networks, expanding beyond just TikTok. His unique appearance and expressive stare made the meme very versatile and easily adaptable.
Notable Examples
Some of the most popular iterations of the Gonker meme include:
The original meme featuring Gonker wearing sunglasses with the text “Gonker says: No worries…Be happy!” This simple yet funny image kickstarted the meme’s popularity.
Gonker photoshopped into iconic movie scenes, like the burning house from Pulp Fiction, or Jack and Rose on the bow of the Titanic. Putting Gonker into classic pop culture moments added to the absurdist humor.
Wholesome, positive memes featuring Gonker with captions like “Gonker says: Believe in yourself!” and “Gonker says: You can do the thing!” These feelgood variants spread a message of encouragement.
Edgy, ironic memes with Gonker making inappropriate comments or promoting questionable behavior for comedic effect. While controversial, this darker humor also proved popular.
Videos inserting an animated Gonker into songs, movie trailers, or other media for humorous mashups. The versatility of the meme allowed for crossover into remix culture.
Cultural Impact
The Gonker meme has had a significant cultural impact, inspiring various spin-off memes and becoming a recognizable symbol of internet dog culture. Here are some of the major ways Gonker has influenced internet culture:
Gonker has become shorthand for goofy or silly dog behavior. The meme is often referenced in comments or social media posts about dogs doing weird things. People will say “He’s gone full Gonker mode” or “What a Gonker!” to describe funny dog antics. This reflects how engrained the meme has become in internet slang about dogs.
The meme has inspired various spin-off and derivative memes featuring Gonker or playing off elements of the meme. These include Photoshop mashups inserting Gonker into different images, memes replacing the text with different jokes, and videos recreating the meme with other animals. The popularity of spin-off memes shows the meme’s cultural resonance.
Gonker represents the growth and mainstreaming of internet dog culture over the past decade. The meme emerged from niche online dog forums but has now become widely recognized even by casual internet users. Gonker’s evolution shows how a particular dog community’s inside joke can spread to shape broader culture.
The meme exemplifies how the internet brings renewed attention to otherwise obscure images or footage. Without the internet, old commercial outtakes like Gonker would likely be forgotten. But through memes, overlooked media fragments can become cultural touchstones.
Gonker has joined other animals like Grumpy Cat as iconic meme figures. While most memes fade quickly, Gonker has demonstrated rare staying power and recognizability. The meme’s persistence in internet culture reflects the special connection people feel to funny and cute dogs.
Gonker in Real Life
The real dog behind the Gonker meme is a Samoyed named Nitro. He has fluffy white fur and an expressive face, which quickly turned him into an internet celebrity in 2015. Nitro belongs to a Miami couple named Alina and Kristian von Dahlen.
As Gonker’s popularity grew on social media in the mid-2010s, Nitro was recognized in public by excited fans who had seen the memes. His owners eventually created social media accounts for Nitro so people could follow his real life in addition to the memes. Fans enjoy seeing behind-the-scenes photos and videos of the fluffy dog who inspired such a viral character.
For the von Dahlens, Nitro’s meme fame came as a complete surprise. They were simply sharing cute pictures of their pet online when some images went viral. While the couple does sell some Gonker merchandise featuring Nitro’s likeness, they keep his online presence fun and lighthearted rather than overly commercialized.
Nitro seems to enjoy the attention he receives thanks to his alter ego Gonker. The viral memes have earned him extra treats, walks, and pats from adoring fans both online and in real life. For many meme lovers, knowing the real story of the dogs like Nitro behind these viral sensations adds to the appeal.
Memes and Copyright
Memes often rely on photos or other copyrighted content as the base image. This can raise legal issues around copyright infringement. When a photo or other creative work is shared widely online in meme form without permission, the copyright holder may take issue with this unauthorized use of their work.
However, memes also have a strong legal defense under fair use provisions in copyright law. Memes alter the original photo or work significantly by adding new text and meaning, often for parody purposes. This transformative nature of memes provides a strong fair use argument. As memes are shared organically and non-commercially online, there is also a case that they do not harm the market value of the original work.
Overall there is still some legal gray area around memes and copyright. Some high profile cases have seen meme creators sued for using others’ photos without permission. However, the viral spread and remix nature of memes makes enforcing copyright practically difficult. As long as the meme adds sufficient new creative elements, there is a reasonable fair use defense. But meme creators should still exercise some caution in basing memes entirely on others’ copyrighted works.
The Appeal of Gonker
Gonker the dog resonated with internet users for a few key reasons:
His expressive, wrinkly face was instantly lovable and funny looking. Something about Gonker’s smushed face made people unable to resist smiling every time they saw him. His unique appearance struck the perfect balance between cute and goofy.
The simplicity of the meme allowed it to be easily adapted across many different contexts. People could take the classic Gonker image and add their own text or images to make it relevant to whatever they wanted to joke or comment about. This versatility and customizability fueled the meme’s spread.
Gonker represented a welcome reprieve from negativity online. Looking at wholesome, funny pictures of Gonker provided a quick escape and dose of levity at a time when social media often felt inundated with more serious or controversial content.
The meme created a sense of community and inside joke among those who used and shared it. Gonker fans felt connected through their mutual appreciation of this silly internet dog. Overall, Gonker’s wide appeal as an amusing, uplifting, and highly adaptable meme earned him a place in internet history.
Impact on the Original Dog
The real dog that the Gonker meme is based on is named Voltaire or “Goose” for short. Goose belongs to Maxine, a dog trainer living in New York. When the meme first started spreading in 2019, Maxine was unaware of her dog’s newfound internet fame.
It wasn’t until months later when friends started sending Maxine links to the meme that she realized Goose had become an viral sensation. At first, Maxine found the meme amusing but was surprised by some of the more absurd captions and contexts people were using the meme in.
Overall, Maxine has taken the meme in stride, stating “As long as people are laughing with Goose, not at him, we don’t mind.” The popularity has brought some opportunities like media interviews but Maxine tries to keep life normal for Voltaire and not let the meme distract from his daily routines.
While it’s impossible to say how much Voltaire understands about his meme fame, Maxine says he still seems like the same happy, energetic dog he was before becoming Gonker. The meme doesn’t appear to have impacted Voltaire’s personality or behavior. He continues to enjoy his walks, playing fetch, and spending time with his family.
Conclusion
In summary, the Gonker the Dog meme has become an iconic and enduring internet phenomenon. What began as a simple photo of a dog with a silly expression took on a viral life of its own online. Though its origins were rather unremarkable, Gonker struck a chord with internet users thanks to its goofy and lovable nature.
Gonker illustrates how a single image can inspire countless creative variations and humorous interpretations when shared widely online. Though it originated long before social media, Gonker demonstrated the power of virality and memes early on. The meme endures as a testament to the internet’s ability to collectively embrace the funny, charming, and just plain weird.
While the original dog behind the meme likely remains unaware of his fame, he left a lasting legacy. Gonker the Dog remains one of the most iconic memes of the early internet era, delighting people online over decades. Its lighthearted and wholesome nature is a reminder of the internet’s ability to bring joy and laughter through shared experiences.