Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id CAA11589 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 21 Jan 2002 02:03:03 GMT To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Message-Id: <AA-C0EFCDC7742AAA4F375992CF3D0D164C-ZZ@homebase1.prodigy.net> Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002 20:59:11 -0500 From: "Philip Jonkers" <PHILIPJONKERS@prodigy.net> Subject: Re: Sensory and sensibility Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
--- Original Message ---
From: "Wade T. Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
To: "Memetics Discussion List" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Sensory and sensibility
>Hi Joe Dees -
>
>>>What was the first meme?
>>>
>>>;-)
>>>
>>The idea of meaning-representation itself.
>
>Well, for me, the first meme has always been the cave
paintings. I don't
>know how or why some creature demanded to itself to
sketch those
>markings, but, it must have been a fantastic moment
indeed.
>
>And yes, until that first scratch, there was no first
meme.
The early graffity artists may have gotten inspiration
to depict animals they were attracted too. The reason
for attraction may be that they were valuable in some
way, most likely as food. If they were valuable as
food it is likely that tools were actually needed
to hunt them down, kill them and process there
flesh into eadible steaks.
So I would bet my money on primitive tools, such as
the hunting spear and sharp stone-blade, functioning
as a meat carving instrument, being the prime nominees
to be our earliest of earliest memes.
Artistic expression of having discovered the
joy (sheer survival capability I mean) tools
brought came later once humans got efficient
enough in life to actually have spare time and
energy to generate art.
Philip.
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