Going halfsies once more

Alice in popular culture sighting no. 61: Another one found through Stumbleupon. Contrariwise is a site that showcases people's tattoos that feature quotes from "books, poetry, music, and other sources". Of course, one of the tattoos featured is the line that gave the site its name, "“Contrariwise,” continued Tweedledee, “if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn’t, it ain’t. That’s logic.”".

Alice in popular culture sighting no. 62: This one was another random encounter, but not using Stumble this time. Instead a Google search led me to the Cheshire Cat car club a "Radio Control Car Racing in Congleton, Cheshire".

Alice in popular culture sighting no. 62 ½: This one's not quite a sighting, but instead an acknowledgement of an influence. I recently got a chance to play Super Mario Galaxy. In a game set in an alternate reality, near the beginning of the game you find yourself waking up and having to chase white rabbits.

We're going even further out

Alice in popular culture sighting no. 59: "Not always right" is a site where people post humorous stories about customer service. Once such story about strange requests for prizes is entitled "Tweedledee and Tweedledum".

Alice in popular culture sighting no. 60:I've been following the Phoenix Mars lander on Twitter and it just posted this message: "Will continue to monitor the first dig site (AKA Dodo-Goldilocks) while I start a new test dig in "Wonderland." Still baking samples, too." Apparently, Wonderland is "part of the larger 'national park' area named 'Cheshire Cat'" Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anything about why these places have been named as such.

And once again we pass the mark

Alice in popular culture sighting no. 58: In the Kevin Smith film, Dogma, when we first meet the character of Loki, he is talking to a nun about his interpretation of the Walrus and the Carpenter as an indictment of organised religion.

In other Alice-related news, my friend Jess linked me to this video of a remix of music from the Disney version of Alice.

Please please please

So, considering this is a blog about culture and how I often focus on the connections and references inherent in culture, a TED talk on memetics is something I just couldn't pass up. Susan Blackmore's talk is stunning and it will really make you think about culture and why exactly certain things have come about. When I think of a meme, I think about things that propagate the internet. I think of images and inside jokes and references that only a select few understand. But really, memes are all around us. Every culture is built on mimicry. No wonder I've managed to be so prolific at simply spotting these imitations!



Alice in popular culture sighting no. 57: In a scene in This is England where the gang take a football from some Asian kids, Combo refers to two of them as "Tweedledum and Tweedledee".