Meme Analysis: How the Roman Empire Meme Trend Took Over TikTok
A 'short' Four-Stage Analysis. Read to the end for some good ambient music.
If you’re a woman (since the world is going backward in terms of Gender, even though this trend has reached the end of its lifecycle) who has ever wondered what your male partner thinks about when he’s not with you, you might be surprised to find out that the answer is…the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire is the subject of countless books, movies, games, and memes. The Roman Empire, the obsession of many men on TikTok.
The Roman Empire meme trend cycle is a viral phenomenon that originated on Instagram and spread to TikTok, where it has gained over 1.2 billion views under the hashtag #RomanEmpire. The trend involves women asking men how often they think about the Roman Empire, and being surprised by the frequency and intensity of their answers. The meme is meant to highlight a stereotypical difference between men and women, as well as the enduring fascination with the ancient civilization that shaped much of the modern world.
The trend cycle can be roughly divided into four stages:
Stage 2: The spread. The trend caught on and many women started to post videos of themselves asking the same question to their boyfriends, husbands, dads, brothers, and friends. The videos showed a variety of reactions, from casual admission to passionate explanations, revealing the men’s interest in Roman history, culture, politics, warfare, and legacy.
Stage 3: The parody. The trend became so popular that it spawned many variations and jokes, such as asking men how often they think about other historical topics, such as the French Revolution, the Mongol Empire, or the American Civil War. Some men also reversed the roles and asked women how often they think about the Roman Empire or other things that men stereotypically like, such as sports, cars, or video games.
Stage 4: The backlash. The trend also attracted some criticism and controversy, as some people argued that it was sexist, inaccurate, or trivializing the Roman Empire and its impact on the world. Some also pointed out that not all men are obsessed with Rome, and not all women are ignorant or indifferent about it. Some also challenged the validity and sources of the information that the men shared in their videos.
The Roman Empire meme trend cycle is an example of how social media can create and amplify cultural phenomena that reflect and influence people’s interests, opinions, and identities. It also shows how history can be both entertaining and educational, as well as controversial and contested.
Some good ambient music