FFrom eclipse donuts to deep state madness, the social media build-up in the weeks leading up to the eclipse has spawned memes, marketing gimmicks, and several conspiracy theories. While many people are preparing for this astronomical event, content creators are also scrambling to commemorate the big day.
“Most of the memes are jokes about people going blind from staring into the sun and not using proper protective equipment, and places like Canada are almost out of the way of hosting events,” said Zach Sweat, the paper's editor-in-chief. It's also a joke that they're completely exempt.” Internet social history website “Know Your Meme.''
Michael Zeiler, a solar eclipse cartographer and operator of GreatAmericanEclipse.com, has provided a handy “emoji map” that depicts where the total solar eclipse will be seen with a series of emojis. If you see a smiley face floating above a city, it means the view from that city is the best. Not so much a sleepy face or an angry face.
The last solar eclipse occurred in 2017, shortly after the beginning of President Donald Trump's term. Trump, standing with first lady Melania Trump and her son Barron, looked toward the heavens on the White House steps, ignoring his aides yelling “Don't look!” I narrowed my eyes. From below. The image became a metaphor for the 45-year-old's general distrust of science.
Photos taken during the event were much talked about at the time, and they've surfaced again. This is all part of the warning. If you want to take a peek, please wear glasses.
Still, the overall mood ahead of the 2024 solar eclipse is playful, says Know Your Meme's Sweat. There are far fewer “political jokes” this time than there were seven years ago.
However, there are a lot of goods. What if you get hungry while stuck in a traffic jam while sightseeing on a solar eclipse? Krispy Kreme wants you to pick up its Total Solar Eclipse donut, a glazed donut dipped in black chocolate ice cream and topped with silver sprinkles and Oreo buttercream. And there's a whole cookie in the middle.
MoonPie declared itself the “official sponsor” of the solar eclipse. It's not yet clear what that means, but the snack brand has taken the opportunity to launch a new marshmallow sandwich. Sunchips, Blue Moon and Snapple also launched new and limited edition products to commemorate the event.
Businesses may be having fun with this eclipse, but some are taking it very seriously. Please brace yourself. Stargazers on social media say it's time to prepare for “eclipse energy.”
Astro Bella Luna, a TikTok astrologer with 1 million followers, explained (somewhat intimidatingly): April wasn't here to play. And if she can get through this month, she can get through anything. ”
why? The solar eclipse happens to occur during Mercury's retrograde. At this time, Planet Swift appears to be moving backwards as seen from Earth. (Actually, this is an optical illusion; sometimes the planets move slower than Earth around the sun, so they appear to be receding.)
On Earth, it appears that this short time frame can cause communication problems, mood swings, and general fatigue. Add eclipse to this? chaos!
On the Astrology Memes subreddit, people are reporting feeling light-headed, irritable, tired, and just plain tired in light of this celestial confluence. One user wrote, “My cats always feel the eclipse so strongly that I'm already feeling it 100%,” and added, “Since about the middle of last week, I haven't been my usual self. ” he added.
Adding to the anxiety was a rare 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook parts of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut on the Friday before the eclipse. It all felt a little too end-of-the-day for some doom-and-gloom people, or those prone to anxiety. (If you need another symbol of the impending apocalypse, consider the fact that up to a trillion cicadas are about to hit the East Coast for the first time in centuries.)
And there are conspiracy theorists who are convinced that this eclipse portends, at worst, the collapse of civilization, and at best, very careless action by the deep state. In videos posted to It's ringing.
Disgraced and discredited InfoWars host Alex Jones Posted X's meandering video calls the eclipse a “biblical event” and a sign from God that the Department of Homeland Security will “take over” for vague purposes involving NASA, ancient Egyptian gods, and the Bible. . Yes, it goes without saying that it is impossible to follow.
A few minutes of using Eclipse-Tok can terrify even the most staunch skeptic. However, the fear is less about a second big bang happening and more about how easily misinformation spreads.
It's no wonder that all the heartless marketing and “just a question” makes you want to hide under the duvet until it's all over. But on April 8, it's time to put away your phone, step outside, and enjoy the galaxy's glow. Just be sure to wear safety glasses when doing it.