Prequel Memes

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About

Prequel Memes refer to a series of image macros and photoshop memes that deal exclusively with images, lines, or content from the Star Wars prequel films: Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith. More broadly, it can also deal with any Star Wars media that chronologically occurs before A New Hope.

Origin

On May 19th, 1999, the first Star Wars prequel, Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace opened worldwide. One of the most anticipated films of all time, the film became an immediate source of debate and criticism, resulting in more than $1 billion at the box office^[1] but a 55% on Rotten Tomatoes.^[2] The amount of conversation about the movie made an instant source of online jokes, particularly regarding the character of Jar Jar Binks.

However, the one of the earliest (if not the first) prequel meme is Darth Vader's Noooooooooooo! from Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith. On May 20th, 2005, the YTMND user Redily^[7] created the YTMND “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”^[8] which depicted a still from the newly released Star Wars Episode III, along with the sound byte of Darth Vader saying the phrase ‘Nooooo!’

Four years later, in December 2009, Red Letter Media released their infamous 70-minute review of The Phantom Menace. The video has since received more than 7.7 million views on YouTube. The produciton company has gone on to produce reviews of the other two prequels as well.

Spread

Prequel Memes have been especially popular on Facebook, where groups and communities share memes. One of the earliest Star Wars prequel fan pages, Star Wars Prequel Appreciation Society, launched on April 30th, 2013.^[6] Beginning in 2015, numerous Prequel Meme-specific pages began launching on Facebook. On May 5th, Kit Fisto-core began posting, making it among the earliest Prequel Meme communities. Other popular pages include Star Wars Shit Posting,^[9] Star Wars Prequel Memes,^[10] Star Wars Battle Front II-core,^[12] Star Wars Sithposting,^[13] and Younglings-Core,^[11] which boasts more than 40,000 likes and 40,000 followers. Many Facebook pages contain the suffix "-core" presumably to both differentiate it as a meme site as well as making a reference to the Episode I character Boss Nass' delivery of the like "the planet core" (shown below).

On December 27th, 2016, the subreddit /r/PrequelMemes launched. Within four months, the board had garnered more than 199,600 subscribers. A month after the launch of the subreddit, a thread by Redditor Squarefight in the subreddit /r/OutOfTheLoop asked about the rise of Prequel Memes, which received more than 170 points (90% upvoted) in three months.^[5] On March 13th, 2017, Vice's Motherboard covered a meme war between /r/PrequelMemes and /r/SequelMemes, a subreddit which started about two weeks after /r/PrequelMemes.^[3]^[4] On April 24th, the film website IndieWire published an article on /r/PrequelMemes, indicating that memes may be changing people's opinions on the movies.^[8]

Meme Wars With /r/SequelMemes

First War

On March 12th, 2017, /r/PrequelMemes^[15] moderator TheDStudge submitted a post titled "Formal Declaration of War (Vote here)," which linked to a Strawpoll.met^[17] poll for users to vote "aye" or "nay" on if the subreddit should "seclare formal war on /r/SequelMemes" (shown below).

That day, DStudge submitted a post titled "Begun the Meme War Has," announcing that the subreddit had begun an "open war" with the rival /r/SequelMemes^[16] subreddit. On March 13th, the Vice technology news site Motherboard published an article about the meme war titled "Reddit Is Engaged in a Highly Entertaining 'Star Wars' Meme War." On March 16th, TheDStudge submitted a post declaring victory and announcing that "the war with /r/SequelMemes has drawn to a close."^[18]

Second War

On June 19th, 2017, TheDStudge announced that the subreddit had official declared war on /r/SequelMemes a second time.^[19] On June 21st, TheDStudge submitted an update post listing 14 subreddits who had allied during the war.^[20] On June 23rd, TheDStudge announced that a "ceasfire" had been called.^[21]

Third War

On March 23rd, 2018, the /r/MemeWorldWar^[24] subreddit was created for "subreddits that have allied with a side (Allies or Resistance)" in a new meme war, with the Allies representing /r/PrequelMemes and the Resistance representing /r/SequelMemes. On March 26th, TheDStudge submitted a post titled "Will it be war?", which featured another Strawpoll for users to vote on whether a third war should be declared against /r/SequelMemes.^[23] Within 48 hours, the poll gathered more than 8,000 votes, with 92% voting in favor of the war.^[22]

Over the next day, several posts about forming alliances in the meme war reached the front page of various subreddits, including /r/PartyParrot, /r/IASIP, /r/OTMemes and /r/Garlicbreadmemes. On March 28th, TheDStudge submitted a post announcing that the war is over and that "all war material is being deleted," adding that "it went about 12 steps too far."^[25]

PewDiePie Rebellion

On April 24th, 2018, YouTuber PewDiePie posted a video reviewing Prequel Memes, which received more than 3.2 million views and 21,400 comments over the next 48 hours (shown below).

Over the next 24 hours, memes mocking PewDiePie and his fans began trending on the /r/PrequelMemes subreddit (shown below). On April 25th, Redditor ginger2020 submitted a post asking "What's going on with Star Wars subs and PewDiePie" to /r/OutOfTheLoop,^[26] to which Redditor KingRider66 replied that "PewDePie’s fans are apparently notorious for ruining memes."

Various Examples

Now This Is Podracing

Now This Is Podracing is a memorable quote uttered by the character Anakin Skywalker (played by Jake Lloyd) in the 1999 science fiction film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, the fourth installment of the space opera film series Star Wars. The quote is often mocked online for being emblematic of Lloyd’s poorly received performance in the film.

I Am the Senate

I Am The Senate is a quote from Chancellor Palpatine in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith that grew into a popular phrasal meme in Star Wars-related subreddits.

Execute Order 66

Execute Order 66 is a line said by Chancellor Palpatine in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith that sparked numerous image macros in the years following its release and resurfaces amidst the Star Wars Episode III meme revival in early 2017.

I Have The High Ground

I Have the High Ground is a catchphrase based on a line said by Obi-Wan Kenobi in the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith. Online, the phrase is often used in Prequel Memes, i.e. jokes regarding Star Wars: Episodes I, II and III.

The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis The Wise

The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis 'The Wise' is a copypasta originating from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Online, it has gained popularity as a meme among Star Wars fans.

You Were The Chosen One!

You were the chosen one! is a quote from the 2005 science fiction film Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith that is used to express disappointment in someone or something that was once previously seen as promising. On the web, the quote is often referenced in the form of an image macro based on a still shot of Obi-Wan Kenobi from the corresponding scene in the film.

Well Whadya Know

Well Whadya Know is a memorable quote uttered by the alien character Dex in the film Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones. Online, the phrase is frequently used in conjunction with screenshots from the film to express feigned surprise, or used as the subject line for Star Wars-related posts.

Sheev Posting

Sheev Posting is the act of parodying the Star Wars villain Darth Sidious, whose birth name was revealed to be Sheev Palpatine in the 2014 novel Tarkin. Similar to the practice of Baneposting among the fans of The Dark Knight films, sheev posting typically takes the form of image macros and photoshopped parodies based on still images of the character as portrayed in the franchise, most notably scenes from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith wherein Palpatine reveals himself as a Sith Lord.

This is Where the Fun Begins

This is Where the Fun Begins is an image macro series featuring a screen capture of the character Anakin Skywalker from a scene in the 2005 film Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith.

Another Happy Landing

Another Happy Landing refers to a quote uttered by the character Obi-Wan Kenobi in the film Star Wars: Episode III-- Revenge of the Sith. This piece of dialogue has been the frequent subject of jokes via image macros and YouTube remixes, emphasizing actor Ewan McGregor’s speedy line reading.

I Don't Like Sand

I don’t like sand is a memorable quote spoken by the character Anakin Skywalker in the 2002 film Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones. Online, people frequently point to the line as a negative criticism of the Star Wars prequels.

Obi-Wan Hates

Obi-Wan Hates AKA Force Push started as a YTMND fad using an exploitable scene taken from the 1999 film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The animated gifs used in many of these YTMNDs have also spread to 4chan, and a number of the YTMND Compilation videos can be found on Youtube.