Just like any piece of art or an advertisement, the primary objective of all memes is to capture our attention. What it is they choose to do so that they achieve this goal varies widely from meme to meme, but quite often, there is some kind of shock factor involved. In this chronically online world, where an increasing number of people feel like they have seen everything, it can feel like it takes a lot to get the internet invested in some silly joke. Then again, Hawk Tuah made a mark with a mere street interview.
The moral of the story is that while getting people to do a second take is the optimal result for a good meme, it is not necessarily about the lowest common denominator (much as it often goes there). Ultimately, anybody seeking them out just wants to have a good time by any means necessary.
