Reaction Videos

Random Hilarity: How To Rick Roll Somebody




Viral Video memes like, "Keyboard Cat," "Rick-Rolling," and "2-Girls-1 Cup" are interesting for their function more than their content. These videos demonstrate an audience practice related to pranking. The videos are sent to subvert the expectations of the user. Their effectiveness is due to the cultural understanding that anything is possible on the internet. The video being sent to you from a friend could contain anything and the moment of pressing play is a moment of endless possibility. These videos are the punch-line or pay-off to a moment of tension.