Michaela Lalanne
When did this begin to become popular/famous on
the Internet and why?
The meme “GINGERS DO HAVE SOULS!!”
became popular on the Internet in 2010. It was aired on YouTube and gained
millions of views and thousands of response videos. This meme gained its popularity
for two reasons: first off, because of the controversy that developed over the
South Park episode “Ginger Kids”, and secondly because of school violence
awareness and the increase in violent acts against red-headed students.
Description of the meme, “GINGERS DO HAVE
SOULS”
·
The term
ginger has been used for a long time to refer to people with red hair. People
have been making fun of “gingers” for decades, however it was South Park that
really brought the discrimination of gingers to a national audience.
·
The
phrase “gingers have no souls” was first introduced in the South Park Episode
“Ginger Kids”, which aired on November 9, 2005.
·
In this
episode, a presentation is given on redheaded children, which includes a
made-up disease pertaining only to redheads. Additionally throughout the
episode, the South Park characters poke fun at redheaded people and
discriminate against them.
·
A few
years later on January 14, 2010, YouTuber CopperCab uploaded a video titled
“GINGERS DO HAVE SOULS!!” where he dramatically expressed his anger and
frustrations with redheaded discrimination.
·
CopperCab
goes on an emotional rampage about being bullied in school due to his red hair
and includes awkward phrases such as, “I’m ginger, and proud of it”
·
CopperCab’s
video received over 3.1 million views and over 600 response videos in the first
month after being uploaded. In addition, it also led to mash-up videos and
remixes.
How popular did it become and over what time
span?
CopperCab's video has had
over 30,000,000 views on YouTube since it was created. In addition to its many
response videos and remixes, CopperCab’s video also led to the creation of a
website and a line of t-shirts. Google searches of the word ginger have been
increasing since 2004, however according to Google insights, it peaked in 2010
with CopperCab’s YouTube video.
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