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In these trying times, it's impossible to be a citizen of the web without noticing the endless parade of viral jokes: Memes, as they shall henceforth be called. (Got a nice ring to it, no?) **These are the Internet memes that made our year, from secretaries of state sending you texts to art restoration disasters that left us laughing (and procrastinating) for hours on end.** They might not be Hemingway or Shakespeare, but the millions of people who created these microcosms of popular web culture deserve a pat on the back for participating in an astounding phenomenon, the true effects of which will not be known for years. A few hundred tiny pixels on the Internet, one giant leap for mankind. *Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh.* [Begin Slideshow](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/best-memes#slide-1) ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Best Memes 2012 - Favorite Meme Of The Year [Entertainment](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/entertainment) [written by Kelsey Garcia](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/author/kelsey-garcia) ## More from Entertainment [Entertainment In *The Drama*, Zendaya’s Emma Is — For Better & For Worse —... Major The Drama spoilers ahead. Romantic comedies are often overwhelmingly concerned with beginnings. How — and if — a couple gets together is the whol by Kathleen Newman-B...](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/the-drama-movie-review-zendaya-emma-character-explained) [Mercado 10 Festival Essentials Latinas Should Pack This Season by Brenda Barrientos](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/latina-music-festival-essentials) [Entertainment Why Do *The Pitt* Cast Shakeups Only Involve Women Of Color? 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Every year has its moments — moments that will live on forever, as an icon of an era and a harbinger of the historical meaning of our times. Men on the moon, coding the human genome, the publication of *Lolita*...and a one solidly grumpy cat. In these trying times, it's impossible to be a citizen of the web without noticing the endless parade of viral jokes: Memes, as they shall henceforth be called. (Got a nice ring to it, no?) **These are the Internet memes that made our year, from secretaries of state sending you texts to art restoration disasters that left us laughing (and procrastinating) for hours on end.** They might not be Hemingway or Shakespeare, but the millions of people who created these microcosms of popular web culture deserve a pat on the back for participating in an astounding phenomenon, the true effects of which will not be known for years. A few hundred tiny pixels on the Internet, one giant leap for mankind. *Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh.*