On the Trail of p23s5
The “page 23, sentence 5″ meme spread like wildfire through the blogosphere, packed to the rafters with logophiles like so much dry kindling. In it’s wake has come some of the most extensive analysis and meme-tracking I’ve seen in my short blogging career.
Chris Vincent was the first meme-tracker I discovered, though not the first to attempt it. By far the most thorough and successful job was done by Kellan Elliott-McCrea at LaughingMeme, sticking so slavishly close to classic meme theory as to become sneakily self-satirical in the process. Paulo of How Now Brownpau? also gave it a shot before discovering Kellan’s analysis, and was clever enough to point out that tracking the meme had become a meme in and of itself.
It’s not over yet, either. The meme has mutated into a half-dozen new variations, including a haiku version and an exquisite corpse version that I plan on trying here when I get back home to my books. There’s also a “post 23″ version based on your own blog that should be easy enough to pull off, though I shudder to think what I might find. 
Terry Teachout ( http://www.artsjournal.com/aboutlastnight ) is where I picked it up. Silent Running ( http://silentrunning.tv/archives/004031.php ) traced out one path of the meme.
But, why my variant?
Comment by Alan Kellogg — April 27, 2004 @ 1:56 am
Meme Evolution
The P23S5 meme has changed. Check out the article to see some of the ways. Unless you’ve got more energy and determination than I have, you’ll find it hard to keep up with all the alterations, and the permutations thereof….
Trackback by Mythusmage Opines — April 27, 2004 @ 2:04 am
Alan: If you mean why did I include your variant, the answer is because I thought it was a cool idea.
Comment by Adam — April 27, 2004 @ 11:47 am
I had the feeling.:)
Comment by Alan Kellogg — April 27, 2004 @ 2:33 pm