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Chapter TwoLiterature Review
2.1 Basic Conceptions of Memetics
2.1.1 Definition of Meme
Memetics is a relatively new theory to explain principle of cultural evolution basedon Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. It can be defined as “the theoretical and empiricalscience that studies the replication, spread and evolution of memes” (Heylighten, 1994).Meme, the core of Memetics, was firstly proposed by Richard Dawkins in his book TheSelfish Gene which was published in 1976. In this book, Dawkins explains in detail howgenes promote the evolution of organisms through self-replicating and competing witheach other. In the end of the book, he poses that evolution also occurs in human culturebesides biological world. According to Dawkins, in addition to genes, there is anotherreplicator, which he named meme, existing in the process of evolution. Gene is a copyin the biological world. Similarly, Dawkins puts forward that “meme” is a new copy toaccelerate cultural progress.
The word “meme” originates from the Greek word “Mimeme”. It has the meaningof imitation. Dawkins defined meme as “a cultural transmission unit, or a cultural replication factor” (Dawkins, 1976). That is to say, those which are constantly imitatedand disseminated can be memes such as customs, concepts, languages or socialbehaviors. Memes are transmitted by imitation. The difference between Gene and memeis that the former needs a generation for transmission while the spread of the latter isjust in a moment. Since it is a new evolutionary discipline, many authoritativedictionaries also collect the definition of memes. The definition of meme is described inThe Oxford English Dictionary that a meme is an element of culture which is possible tobe transmitted by non-genetic means, especially imitation. Besides, it is also defined inThe Webster Dictionary as the transmission of manner, thought, or action from oneindividual to another. (Blackmore, 1999).
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2.2 Relevant Studies of Memetics Abroad
2.2.1 Brief History of Memetics Abroad
Memetics originates from abroad. It is a new theory based on Darwin’sevolutionism to explain the rules of cultural evolution. The Oxford English Dictionarydefined “meme” as an element of a culture which can be spread from one individual toanother by non-genetic means, especially imitation. It has experienced the followingfour important developmental stages abroad.
Richard Dawkins firstly mentioned the term “meme” in his book The Selfish Genein 1976. He pointed out that “meme”, originated from Greek “mimema” with themeaning of “that which is imitated”, is a basic unit of culture transmission similar to thepattern of “gene”. Based on Dawkins’ view, Dennett (1993) tried to apply Memetics toexplain why some thoughts and views can be kept in mind as a very long time as genesdo. Later on, Richard Brodie (1996) and Aaron Lynch (1996) both examined the way ofmemes’ transmitting in society and explored Memetics in the area of consciousness andthought, which accelerated the development of Memetics greatly and laid a goodfoundation for further studies on Memetics.
Based on Dawkins, Blackmore (1999) led the study of Memetics to another peakwith the publication of her book “The Meme Machine”. She stated that meme isinformation that can be copied through imitation. She identified the two different typesof meme, genotype language meme and expressive language meme. Since then, scholarshave begun to study the Memetic mechanism systematically.
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Chapter Three Research Methodology............................... 24
3.1 Research Questions................................24
3.2 Research Subjects.................................. 25
Chapter Four Findings and Discussions ............................ 43
4.1 Findings based on Questionnaires..
