The Meme From 2016 That Explains 2026
The Atlantic
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The article explores how a simple gesture meme from 2016 has become a powerful cultural and political symbol in today's world. The meme, characterized by phrases like "[gestures broadly at everything]" or "", emerged as a way to express overwhelm and confusion during turbulent times. It gained popularity after Katie Loewy tweeted about David Bowie holding the fabric of the universe together, using the gesture to convey the absurdity and chaos of events like Brexit and mass shootings.
The meme’s appeal lies in its ability to capture the feeling of being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of news and crises, from political scandals to global climate issues. It became a shorthand for acknowledging the complexity and unpredictability of modern life. The article highlights how this gesture meme reflects broader trends in language and culture, where people increasingly rely on vague terms like "vibe" or emojis to express themselves.
Politically, the meme matters because it underscores the challenges of understanding and addressing complex issues in a fragmented media landscape. Overwhelm can lead to helplessness, which in turn fosters apathy and disengagement from political processes. This has significant implications for democracy, as clear communication and shared understanding are essential for collective action.
The article also ties the meme’s enduring relevance to current events, such as mass protests and climate crises, showing how it continues to resonate as a symbol of our era's tension between chaos and meaning. By capturing the essence of modern life’s overwhelming nature, the gesture meme serves as both a diagnosis and a critique of our ability—or inability—to engage with the world around us.
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Originally published on The Atlantic on 2/24/2026