An anthropomorphic dog with a relaxed expression and clothes everyday It became the viral image of the moment. It’s getting harder and harder to come up with new memes that actually go viral, and this guy is one of them. And his name is Chill Guy.

What does this mean. Behind the image of a calm dog in a sweater with his hands in his pockets spirit of the times current: the value of maintaining peace in a chaotic world. Maintaining calm amid frenzy and hyperconnectivity.

Suitable for anxiety and depression, burnout. Chill Guy is an aspirational ideal: the ability to remain cool despite all odds.

in detail. The character is deceptively simple. The expression between what is called in English smile And grin (between the smile and another nuance of the satisfied smile) conveys a certain Zen serenity.

The fascinating thing about the meme is not the pose, but the attitude it reflects. A real, almost philosophical light-heartedness.

between the lines. The fact that Chill Guy has gone viral – which the best translation into Spanish would be ‘chill de cojones’, the national wonder someone invented, if you’ll pardon the expression – speaks to an uncomfortable truth about our times: we want so badly to be that “quiet guy”. Not to lose our composure in the face of the turmoil of modern life.

It is a form of passive resistance to problems, depicted through a dog.

origin. It was born on October 4, 2023, when artist Phillip Banks shared it as a spontaneous reflection on carefreeness. The meme remained anonymous for months until it exploded on TikTok mid-year. This pattern is quite common in online culture.

The spark that ignited his popularity was a series regulations With the song ‘They make it look so easy’. Maintaining calm in the midst of chaos seems like it would be easy, but it’s not.

HE spirit of the times. The main uses for this meme go right in that direction: everyday situations where staying calm seems like a superpower. It is an antidote to the emotional over-reactivity of social networks. Paradoxically, there is no greater Chill Guy than someone who does not use any social networks.

An archetype that has endured for generations, an alternative masculinity: neither toxic nor artificially delicate. He is a man who finds peace in impartiality, without falling into indifference.

The success of the meme is no longer just due to its viral journey, but because brands are using it as well. On the other hand, it is a viral sign that his death is approaching.

Even Mr. Beast, the world’s biggest YouTuber, for whom “youtuber” is too young, said about it that it was “the biggest meme of our lives.”

femininely. A female version of the meme, Chill Girl, has also appeared, which adds another layer of complexity: If Chill Guy represents a laid-back masculinity, the female version, with details like bows or long hair, follows suit. Those who reject the stereotype of women’s hypersensitivity.

It is a symbol of resistance to the social pressure that expects women to constantly express themselves, react, or be emotionally available. For a woman, this is another way of understanding life: serenity and neutrality have no gender.

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Featured image | Philip Banks