Shiba Inu Meme History and Cultural Impact

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Posted Oct 2, 2024

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Top view crop anonymous female browsing netbook while sitting on cozy chair with adorable Shiba Inu dog
Credit: pexels.com, Top view crop anonymous female browsing netbook while sitting on cozy chair with adorable Shiba Inu dog

The Shiba Inu meme has its roots in Japanese internet culture, specifically on 4chan's /a/ board where users shared images of the breed with humorous captions.

In 2013, a photo of a Shiba Inu named Atomik Panda was posted online and became an instant hit. The image showed the dog looking unimpressed by something off-camera.

The meme gained traction in 2016 when a Reddit user created a bot that automatically added "doge" captions to images of Shiba Inus, further popularizing the breed's internet fame.

Shiba Inu Meme Origins

The Shiba Inu meme has its roots in internet culture, specifically on Reddit and 4chan. The first recorded use of "Doge" was in a 2013 image macro featuring a picture of a Shiba Inu with a caption written in a playful, exaggerated style.

The image quickly gained popularity, and the term "Doge" became synonymous with the breed. However, it wasn't until the rise of cryptocurrency that the Shiba Inu meme truly took off.

About

Credit: youtube.com, The History of Doge

The Shiba Inu meme originated from a Japanese dog breed that has been around for centuries, with archaeological evidence showing they existed as far back as 300 BC.

Their small size and fox-like features made them an instant favorite among internet users who began sharing images of the dogs online in the early 2000s.

Shibas have a strong independent streak, which might explain why some owners describe them as "cat-like" in their behavior.

This unique personality trait likely contributed to the breed's popularity as a meme subject, with many people finding humor in the dog's stubbornness and aloofness.

The Shiba Inu's distinctive fox face and fluffy coat have also made it a beloved internet celebrity, with its adorable features being plastered all over social media platforms.

Identity

The Shiba Inu meme has a fascinating history, and understanding its origins is key to appreciating its cultural significance.

In December 2013, The Verge published an article that helped identify the original Shiba Inus behind the meme.

Kabosu, Sato's beloved dog, was identified as the original Shiba Inu depicted in the "Doge" meme.

Suki, a San Francisco-based photographer Jonathan Fleming's Shiba Inu, was also identified as the scarfed dog portrayed in another popular instance of the meme.

Here's an interesting read: English Bull Terrier Original

Doglore

Credit: youtube.com, RIP Doge: Kabosu, the Beloved Shiba Inu of the Doge Meme Has Crossed The Rainbow Bridge

The Doge meme has inspired a dedicated community on Reddit, with the creation of Dogelore in 2018 by Kirbizia, founder of /r/OKBR.

This subreddit is focused exclusively on memes about Doge and related dog characters within the so-called "Doge lore".

Over two years, Dogelore accumulated an impressive 200,000 subscribers, making it one of the major hubs for Doge memes online.

The term "doge" has an interesting historical context, as it's also a Venetian title used in some Italian "crowned republics", including Genoa and Venice.

Meme Spread and Impact

The shiba inu meme spread rapidly across various online platforms, starting with a photo submitted to /r/Ads subreddit on October 28th, 2010. The post received 266 upvotes and 218 points overall.

In April 2012, Tumblr user leonsumbitches uploaded an audio file of a computer reading a passage written like the commands of a turn-based adventure game about encountering a "doge." This post gained more than 33,000 notes as of July 2013.

The meme continued to grow in popularity, with the single-topic blog F--k Yeah Doge launching on Tumblr in August 2012. By December 2012, the term "doge" appeared on Reddit in a post submitted to /r/DogsIWannaHug.

Spread

Credit: youtube.com, Lada Adamic: How do memes spread across the internet?

The spread of a meme can be fascinating to watch, and the "doge" meme is no exception. It all started with a photo of Kabosu, a Shiba Inu, that was submitted to the /r/Ads subreddit on October 28th, 2010.

This photo received 266 upvotes and 218 points overall before being archived. The same image was later paired with an audio file featuring a computer reading a passage written in broken English, which gained over 33,000 notes on Tumblr by July 2013.

The single-topic blog Your Daily Doge was created to capitalize on the meme's popularity but was quickly abandoned after reblogging the original post several times. A video featuring a person reading the text over a fake Pokémon battle was uploaded to YouTube in May 2012, further spreading the meme.

By June 2012, doge threads with people sharing photos of dogs in different outfits began appearing on 4chan boards, including /v/ (Video Games). The same month, a photoset of a dog with a cup and saucer balanced on his head went viral on Tumblr after being referred to as "Polite Doge."

Suggestion: Pug Dog Video

Credit: youtube.com, memes go viral cuz they're so sick

The growth of the meme coincided with the popularity of the single-topic Tumblr Shiba Confessions, where people began referring to these dogs as "shibes." In December 2012, the term "doge" appeared on Reddit in a post submitted to /r/DogsIWannaHug.

A subreddit dedicated to sharing photos and videos of captioned Shiba Inus was created on January 8th, 2013. Another single-topic blog, shibe-doge, launched in July 2013, dedicated to sharing Shiba Inu photos.

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Ironic Memes

Ironic Memes are a type of meme that often uses dark or absurd humor.

The format was popularized on deep iFunny and Facebook between 2016 and 2017.

They can take many forms, but one common form is image macros with edits to the original Doge image for comedic effect.

Doge NFT Auction 2021

The Doge NFT Auction 2021 was a historic event that set a record for the highest meme NFT auction ever.

On June 11th, 2021, the Doge NFT sold for roughly $4.06 million (1696.9 ETH) after an auction in mid-June of the same year.

Atsuko Sato donated a significant portion of the money to various charities, including Plan International and the Japanese Red Cross.

The funds raised from the auction helped bring smiles to the faces of children in need all over the world, as Atsuko Sato had hoped.

On a similar theme: Shiba Inu Nft

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Doge slang?

A Doge is a slang term referring to an internet meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog with humorous, simplified captions. It's characterized by short phrases using incorrect grammar and vocabulary, often in a playful or ironic way.

What type of dog is Doge?

Doge is a Shiba Inu dog breed. This iconic breed's image has been used in popular memes and even inspired cryptocurrency logos.

What is the name of the dog in the Shiba Inu meme?

Kabosu is the name of the female Shiba Inu dog featured in the original meme. She was owned by Atsuko Sato and first appeared in a 2010 blog post.

What is Doge's real name?

Unfortunately, Kabosu's owner never revealed her real name. The Shiba Inu's internet fame is tied to her "meme" persona as Doge.

Are Doge and Cheems the same dog?

No, Doge and Cheems are not the same dog; they are two distinct characters in the Doge meme universe. While both are Shiba Inus, they have different characteristics, with Cheems being known for a speech impediment that adds the letter "M" to his words.

Shreyashi Gill

Writer

Shreyashi Gill is a talented writer with a passion for crafting compelling stories and characters. With a keen eye for detail, she weaves intricate narratives that transport readers to new worlds and perspectives. Throughout her career, Shreyashi has honed her craft through various writing mediums, from short stories to full-length novels.

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