What are the four mythical beasts of the Internet?
In Internet culture, the "four mythical beasts of the Internet" are a well-known concept. They represent four classic online animal images. They are not only highly recognizable, but also carry rich cultural connotations. This article will give you a detailed introduction to the origins, characteristics and influence of these four mythical beasts on Internet culture.
1. The origin of the four mythical beasts of the Internet
The concept of the four mythical beasts of the Internet first originated in the Chinese Internet community, and gradually became popular with the spread of Internet culture. They are: grass mud horse, Fake squid, elegans butterfly and river crab. With their unique images and humorous naming methods, these mythical beasts have quickly become an important part of online popular culture.
2. Characteristics of the four mythical beasts of the Internet
The following are the detailed characteristics of the four mythical beasts of the Internet:
| Name of mythical beast | Image source | cultural meaning | popular time |
|---|---|---|---|
| grass mud horse | Alpaca | Symbol of humorous resistance to online censorship | 2009 |
| Fake squid | squid | express feelings of anger or dissatisfaction | 2010 |
| Elegant butterfly | butterfly | Derived from Japanese homophones, expressing surprise or helplessness | 2011 |
| river crab | crab | Homophonous for "harmony", alluding to online censorship | 2008 |
3. The cultural influence of the four mythical beasts of the Internet
The four mythical beasts of the Internet are not only symbols of humor, but also reflect netizens’ unique interpretation of real society. They express netizens' attitudes towards certain social phenomena through homophony, metaphor, etc. For example, "Grass Mud Horse" and "River Crab" are often used to poke fun at the Internet censorship system, while "Fake Squid" and "Elegant Butterfly" are more used to express personal emotions.
4. Modern evolution of the four mythical beasts of the Internet
With the continuous development of Internet culture, the images and meanings of the four mythical beasts of the Internet are also constantly evolving. In recent years, some new online mythical beasts have gradually emerged, but the status of the four major mythical beasts remains unshakable. The following are hot topics related to the four mythical beasts in recent years:
| time | hot topics | Related mythical beasts |
|---|---|---|
| October 2023 | Grass mud horse emoticon package becomes popular again | grass mud horse |
| September 2023 | River crab culture sparks discussion on social media | river crab |
| August 2023 | Fake Squid has become a buzzword in the e-sports circle | Fake squid |
| July 2023 | Yazhi Butterfly Terrier becomes popular on short video platform | Elegant butterfly |
5. Conclusion
As classic symbols of Internet culture, the four mythical beasts of the Internet not only enrich the language of the Internet, but also provide netizens with a unique way of expression. Their existence proves the creativity and vitality of network culture. In the future, with the further development of the Internet, these mythical beasts may continue to be active in the online world in new forms.
Through the introduction of this article, I believe you will have a deeper understanding of the four mythical beasts of the Internet. Whether as cultural phenomena or internet memes, they deserve to be remembered and discussed.
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