Introduction
The Dog of Wisdom meme refers to a viral 2009 YouTube video featuring a puppy sitting on a table, staring stoically ahead with a caption saying “hmm yes…the floor here is made out of floor.” The video gained popularity again in 2015, morphing into an absurdist meme and spawning endless parodies and tributes across the internet.
Originating from a real video of a thoughtful-looking puppy, the meme uses the dog’s studious gaze and the silly caption to humorously imitate philosophical wisdom. The meme format presents the dog making pseudo-profound observations in a faux-serious tone, satirizing online culture’s penchant for putting on airs of intelligence. Though nonsensical, the meme resonated through its ability to poke fun at pretentiousness on the internet.
Origin
The original Dog of Wisdom video that sparked the meme was posted to YouTube in 2014 by a user named jrwishow. In the 57-second video, a fluffy Samoyed dog named Sam sits in front of a green screen while words of wisdom appear to come out of his mouth in a synthesized voice. Phrases like “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” and other inspirational sayings scroll across the screen as if Sam is philosophizing about life. The absurdity of attributing such profound advice to a regular dog struck a humorous chord with many viewers.
Despite its simplicity, the video quickly went viral across social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. People found the unexpected combination of an adorable dog paired with philosophical advice highly amusing. The meme format resonated as both lighthearted and strangely profound at the same time. Within months, the original video had received millions of views and sparked numerous memes and parody videos playing off the concept.
Popularity
The “Dog of Wisdom” video became an internet phenomenon shortly after its release in early 2015. Uploaded to YouTube by the comedy duo Vic & Bob, the 24 second clip shows a person in a dog costume dispensing sage advice in a faux-philosophical tone. For some reason, the absurdity of the video struck a chord with millions of viewers.
Within days, the Dog of Wisdom was being shared widely on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and other social platforms. Memes featuring the costumed canine sprung up everywhere, often captioned with pithy pseudo-profound statements. Despite its brevity, the clip amassed over 12 million views on YouTube and many millions more on social sites. Something about the solemn dog dispensing gibberish wisdom resonated with the internet’s sense of humor.
The meme’s popularity peaked in mid-2015, with references to the Dog of Wisdom appearing across the web. However, occasional mentions of the beloved canine sage continue even today. Clearly, the parody character made an impression on internet culture despite its absurdity. For a brief shining moment, a costumed dog speaking nonsense ranked among the web’s favorite memes.
Features
The Dog of Wisdom video features an intense close-up shot of a fluffy Samoyed dog staring motionlessly at the camera. The dog has a serious and contemplative expression on its face, with its head slightly tilted downward and its eyes looking directly into the camera. Its fluffy white fur and intensely focused gaze give it an aura of solemn wisdom, as if the dog is pondering profound philosophical questions.
A few key features that contribute to the video’s humorous absurdity include:
- Extreme close-up shot of the dog’s face, taking up most of the frame
- Completely motionless and serious stare, rarely blinking
- Ears perked up as if carefully listening
- Head tilted down slightly, eyes looking up – a thoughtful, wise posture
- Fluffy white fur around its face adding to the cute appeal
- Solemn, contemplative expression as if in deep thought
The funny contrast between the serious dog stare and the pretense of wise introspection creates an air of quiet absurdity. The dog’s intent gaze suggests there are deep philosophical insights behind its eyes if only we could understand them.
Content
The Dog of Wisdom videos center around an adorable Shiba Inu dog named Smudge. In the videos, Smudge’s owner asks him silly questions or makes philosophical statements. Smudge simply stares silently in response, hence his moniker as the “Dog of Wisdom.” The deadpan, serious expression on Smudge’s face as he gazes quietly at the camera is what makes these videos so amusing and entertaining.
Some example questions and statements from the videos include: “Do you think humans will ever achieve world peace?”, “What do you think about the ontology of meaning?”, and “How did we get here?”. Smudge says nothing, merely continuing to stare stoically into the camera for an uncomfortably long period of time after each prompt. His lack of response is humorous because it subverts expectations – we wait for the dog’s “words of wisdom” which never arrive.
The comedic absurdity of looking to a silent dog for philosophical enlightenment is what made these videos go viral. Smudge’s stern visage gives the impression that he is deep in contemplation, carefully considering the profound issues posed to him, when in reality he is just a regular dog. His deadpan seriousness juxtaposed with the silliness of the situation is what gives the videos their charm and humor.
Viral Spread
The video of the wise dog took the internet by storm in 2020, quickly going viral across social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. People began making their own versions, edits and responses to the original video featuring the wise dog dispensing advice. These user-generated versions helped further spread the meme, with different people adding their own humorous or creative takes on the wise dog.
There was an explosion of wise dog content, with the original video being remixed, edited, and adapted in numerous ways. Some added silly animation effects or captions, many created green screen versions for others to utilize, some made musical remixes or song parodies, and others acted out conversational sketches with people playing the role of the dog. The meme also inspired various artworks and animations featuring the character of the wise dog.
This flood of user-generated content served to greatly amplify the meme’s spread and exposure. The wise dog was everywhere on social media for a time, being shared, liked and remade relentlessly. People went beyond just passing around the original video, taking the time to personally engage with the meme through their own creative additions. This helped cement the wise dog’s legacy and status as an iconic viral meme of 2020.
Cultural Impact
The Dog of Wisdom meme has become a part of internet culture and is often referenced in web and pop culture. Some examples of how the meme has been embraced include:
– Many people use the meme as a reaction image online to appear sage and wise in discussions. Posting the meme image implies “I am speaking words of wisdom.”
– The Dog of Wisdom is sometimes included in lists and articles about top or famous internet memes and viral sensations.
– Fans have created merchandise featuring the meme, such as t-shirts, phone cases and stickers.
– The viral video has inspired musical remixes and instrumental versions on YouTube.
– Some online communities and personalities have adopted the Dog of Wisdom as an unofficial mascot.
– References to the meme occasionally appear in television shows and other media looking to connect with internet culture.
– Many popular variants and edits of the original viral video have been created, keeping the meme alive.
– The distinctive voice and advice given has been parodied in numerous joke videos and content.
– Some internet users have created fake wise advice and philosophical quotes said to be from the Dog of Wisdom.
Analysis
The Dog of Wisdom video became a viral phenomenon for several reasons. First, it taps into the human love of animals. Dogs are especially beloved, and the serene, mystic vibe of this particular dog makes it seem extra wise and captivating. Second, the absurd juxtaposition of a dog dispensing faux-philosophical advice in a stereotypical mystical mentor voice is humorous. It’s an unexpected mashup that catches viewers off guard.
Finally, the advice itself is vague and generic enough to seem profound. Phrases like “that which you seek is seeking you” and “the path to enlightenment is paved with hardship and suffering” sound meaningful but can be interpreted in many ways. This gives viewers the satisfaction of feeling they gained wisdom without demanding much mental effort. Overall, the Dog of Wisdom video went viral because it combines cute animals, humor, and faux-profundity in a creative and shareable way.
The Dog Model
The dog featured in the viral video is named Big Poppa. He is a Pomeranian breed dog who resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his owner. Big Poppa first went viral in 2015 when his owner posted videos of him barking phrases like “I Love You” on Twitter. The videos highlighted Big Poppa’s unique grunting bark which sounded like he was talking. This quickly gained popularity online and launched Big Poppa to internet fame.
In April 2020, Big Poppa appeared in another viral video labeled “dog of wisdom” where he seems to be imparting sage advice while resting his head on a windowsill. The video combines comforting scenery of a neighborhood at sunset with Big Poppa’s grunting barks edited together to sound like coherent sentences. This creates a humorous but philosophical tone that resonated with many people during the difficult early months of the Covid-19 pandemic.
While Big Poppa is not actually sharing wisdom in the video, the creative editing taps into the heartwarming sentiment that pets can provide comfort and perspective during challenging times. The video’s overnight popularity underscores the public’s appetite for uplifting animal content and humor during periods of uncertainty.
Conclusion
The Dog of Wisdom has become an iconic internet meme, gaining widespread popularity across social media platforms. While just a simple video of a dog statue at first glance, the meme represents some deeper cultural meanings.
The short video clip seems to touch on the human desire to find wisdom and meaning in unusual or random places. The serious “wise old man” voice paired with the statue of a dog creates an absurd, ironic humor that resonated with many internet users. People enjoy projecting human traits and emotions onto animals in general, and the Dog of Wisdom meme takes this to an entertaining extreme.
The meme also reflects how quickly random, silly, or nonsensical content can spread virally online. Without much inherent meaning or value beyond entertainment, the Dog of Wisdom video rapidly amassed millions of views and social shares. Its popularity reveals the unpredictable nature of internet virality and meme culture. What one person creates as a passing joke can take on a life of its own through shared social amplification.
While its popularity will inevitably fade over time, the Dog of Wisdom serves as an iconic reflection of internet meme culture in the early 2010s. Its absurdity and randomness touched a collective funny bone, uniting multitudes of social media users in shared laughter and amusement. The meme leaves a cultural mark as a testimony to the internet’s strange but powerful ability to coalesce around the most arbitrary of inside jokes and make it viral on a global scale.