Unpacking the Penguin Mountain Meme

Tortuga Philosophy Cafe - Saturday, January 31st at 2pm EST

Meaning, Culture and Penguinian Heroism

This was a great session, and I feel we really pinpointed all of the essential elements of the meme. In some ways, I think this discussion is valuable as an example of proper ‘meme-analysis methodology.’ The goal is not to find the correct interpretation but to use various interpretative lenses so as to intuitively clarify the content of what is being investigated, thus revealing a fuller view of the whole.

At around the 1:00 mark I make the point that this is similar to Goethe’s theory of science and the method he employs in his Metamorphoses of Plants. Who knows? Perhaps it is possible to grasp the ‘urmeme.’ This would be a great topic for an essay on Substack, and maybe in a future session, we will discuss the possible methodology for a field of ‘vibetics’:¹ the phenomenological study vibes, values, atmostpheres and other affective phenomena. Because what interests me about this meme is not its propositional ‘meaning’ but its vibe.

I feel very positive about this penguin meme, too. Of course, as Goethe writes, a man sees in the world what he carries in his heart. But the unity of elements that make up the meme, along with other stuff presently floating around in the cultural consciousness, suggests that good things may be on the way. It seems to me that many people are realizing that we live in a wasteland, that the way out of it is a perilous one, but that escape might even be more valuable than mere life. Could this be the indication of a widespread love of the remote? If so, then the penguinian ideal is a very auspicious sign indeed.

Summary

NOTE: Timestamps are off by 15:40 because the beginning was clipped.

• Philosophy Cafe Topic: The Penguin Meme Krug introduced the discussion topic: the popular “penguin meme,” which they attributed to a clip from a Werner Herzog documentary about penguins heading toward certain death. The discussion was scheduled for January 31st with the Tortuga Society Philosophy Cafe. Krug highlighted the cultural phenomenon, particularly how many men strongly identify with the penguin’s solitary march towards the mountains, and posed the question of what drives this strong resonance (00:15:43)—START OF AUDIO.

• Interpretations of the Penguin Meme: Individuation and Absurdity Rajeev Ram interpreted the penguin’s journey as the process of “individuation,” necessitating a break away from the collective to find something of value to bring back to the world (00:17:03). Denerah suggested the meme has an element of “absurdity,” framing the act as a flight from a non-reasoned environment where the only option left is to “run to the mountains” (00:19:03).

• Interpretations of the Penguin Meme: Exploratory Spirit and Romanticism Theon Ultima found the meme engaging because it captures a “Faustian spirit,” representing a desire for adventure and a willingness to incur the associated costs, resonating with young men who feel they should be “risk averse” (00:20:00) (00:22:19). Krug agreed, suggesting this yearning for exploration and the unknown points to a good sign of a return to a more “classical attitude,” valuing things like beauty and moral values for their own sake over utilitarian concerns (00:21:04).

• Interpretations of the Penguin Meme: Explore vs. Exploit Rajeev Ram introduced the concept of “explore versus exploit,” noting that consciousness naturally seeks to explore and break down stability after periods of exploitation (00:23:15). Rajeev Ram suggested the pervasive modern “managerialism” might contribute to the urge to explore “what is beyond the expertise”. Rolling Barnacle offered a mixed view, connecting the meme to a sense of “nihilistic self-destruction” before a potential “rebirth,” echoing themes associated with Nietzsche (00:24:42).

• Interpretations of the Penguin Meme: Cultural Wasteland and Heroism Denerah interpreted the barren wasteland as a reflection of the “cultural wasteland” where the “online right is culturally like barren,” and the mountain represents a romanticized, unprepared-for ideal (00:26:48). Krug countered that the willingness to risk death for the quest, even if the value is inarticulable, suggests a “heroic spirit” and a recognition of values “worth more than your own life” (00:27:54).

• Aesthetic Dimensions of the Penguin Meme Raf highlighted that the meme’s viral success is partly due to its “beautiful” aesthetic qualities, including the music and the visual of the wasteland and mountain, noting that the penguin is easily anthropomorphized (00:28:59). Philosopher of the Oil Sands further argued that the scene is “paradoxically sublime,” evoking a sense of infinity and danger, similar to the sublime themes in Caspar David Friedrich’s paintings, which often serve as a backdrop for heroic quests (00:32:56) (00:36:24).

• Pessimistic Interpretation of the Meme John Henrik noted a possible “pessimistic sense” to the meme and referenced a Substack article titled “USA is cooked,” which claimed the image holds an objective meaning of America heading toward its own death, indicative of a fatalistic attitude prevalent among the younger, left-leaning generation (00:37:32) (00:39:23). Krug acknowledged that people see their own preoccupations in the meme, but argued that the presence of the mountain, a symbol rising above the wasteland, suggests something more than just a nihilistic flight. Denerah related the journey to Julius Evola’s concept of asserting one’s will in a futile environment, making the movement an act of conscious choice (00:41:02) (00:42:50).

• The Hell Yeah/Somewhere I Belong Meme Krug introduced another popular meme format using the Lincoln Park song “Somewhere I Belong,” which features lyrics like “I want to feel what I thought was never for real” (00:43:57) (00:46:58). Theon Ultima viewed this meme as an “unironic” and “earnest” rejection of the last 20 years, signaling a desire for competition, pain, and living outside a “safety bubble” (00:46:11).

• Rejection of Irony and Search for Sincerity Theon Ultima contrasted the earnestness of the “Somewhere I Belong” meme and films like the Dark Knight trilogy with the self-conscious irony and fear of seeking something “not real” in subsequent cultural products, such as the MCU (00:49:02). Ao fs (Ethan) emphasized that the earnest and “over the top” display of masculine vitality in the hype video suggests a possible fading of the “ironic disposition” and a return to sincerity (00:49:59).

• Critique of Philistine Culture Krug brought up Nietzsche’s critique of “Philistine culture,” defining the Philistine as someone who possesses a superficial culture and “hates genuine seekers” who deny its authenticity (00:52:15). Rajeev Ram suggested that the Philistine may require a “permission structure” for enjoyment, fearing operation outside of it (00:54:40). Krug connected this to the penguin, which is called toward the mountains by an inner desire, independent of external dictates, suggesting an emerging aristocracy capable of perceiving value and setting meaningful goals (00:55:48).

• The Nature of Art and Pseudo-Culture Denerah distinguished between individuals who possess aesthetic knowledge and those who create “slop” driven by impulse and lacking talent or information, suggesting the latter cannot deliberately create something elite. Rajeev Ram added that genuine art and culture elevate the baseline of perception for everyone, while a “Philistine” in charge, despite following markers, fails to generate subtle perception because they lack it (00:59:27). Krug agreed, noting that authentic culture is edifying and generative, raising people up, while pseudo-culture makes everyone worse over the long term (01:00:31).

• Analysis of “Worst Boyfriend Ever” (WBE) and “Delicious Tacos” John Henrik offered a specific take on WBE, describing them as a “wannabe aristocrat” inspired by “Delicious Tacos,” whose work is marked by a tragic dimension, bemoaning being born American and middle class instead of an aristocrat (01:01:34). John Henrik suggested that WBE aims to be an aristocrat in their 20s, unlike Delicious Tacos in their 40s, and attributed WBE’s subpar writing to their “poultry education,” leading to a mismatch between their aristocratic heart and their “trashy American” form (01:02:38). John Henrik also suggested an ethnocultural dimension in this literature, particularly in Delicious Tacos’ work, which is more self-conscious of the implicit cultural “cold war against like China” (01:03:36).

• Effort, Incentives, and the Quality of Modern Figures Denerah expressed annoyance with many Substack figures, particularly “Zoomers,” who they believe have every opportunity to improve their writing or worldview but lack the effort to do so, in contrast to their own youth where they actively sought out knowledge. John Henrik responded by suggesting that this is an incentive structure problem, as these individuals are being rewarded for not putting in effort (01:05:09). Krug proposed that rereading material is a good test for its value, suggesting that if WBE’s work does not hold up to repeated consumption, it indicates that it is “slop” (01:05:51).

• Distinguishing Generative Artists from Philistines Rajeev Ram defined the difference between a Philistine and an actual generative artist by stating that the latter desires to learn and has a “thirst for like heading into the unknown,” whereas the Philistine merely throws “slop at the wall” hoping for the trappings of success. Rajeev Ram connected this to the “penguin meme,” suggesting that those who embrace the drive to know more will understand it, but those who lack the possibility of knowing more will find the penguin “kind of stupid” (01:05:51). Krug supported the importance of perception, noting that some people genuinely cannot comprehend why something might be bad if many people liked and saw it, citing a lawyer friend’s reaction to a movie (01:07:28).

• WBE’s Popularity and Conformity Through Nonconformity Rolling Barnacle suggested WBE’s popularity stems from conformity through nonconformity, embodying a 2020 niche of a “sad white boy who’s into Asian chicks and also a player” (01:08:34). Rolling Barnacle elaborated that WBE lives the “negative version” of what most men desire—to “roam around and f*** different chicks”—but their content is aggressively negative, lacking anything positive, suggesting WBE’s Substack functions as “basically just a large Tinder for them” (01:09:38).

• Originality Versus Individuality Krug introduced a distinction between the value of originality and the value of individuality, noting that the individualist is apart from the group. Krug argued that true originality is a higher value, characterized by being led by interests and love for other things, in contrast to the “arch individualist” who consciously wills their own individuality to get away from others—a difference they linked to the penguin meme’s theme of going toward the mountain versus just getting away from other penguins (01:10:35). Denerah refined this idea, suggesting that an artist’s distinctiveness comes from wanting and envisioning something specific, even if their “mountain” is not the highest or prettiest, and Krug agreed that originality is likely “downstream from being authentic” (01:11:50).

• Qualitative Rigor and Meme Analysis Krug summarized the key elements of the penguin meme discussion as the “wasteland barrenness of the frozen tundra,” the sublimity of nature, leaving the herd towards a higher mountain, and the death element associated with valuing the journey more than one’s life (01:14:41). Rajeev Ram introduced the concept of “qualitative rigor” as the skill involved in imposing frames and testing different views to hone in on the “essence of something,” which they deem an actual skill and an application of “exploration” (01:15:49). Krug supported this, referencing Goethe’s science, which sought the “intuitive grasp” of the plant’s “living structure” through contemplation, suggesting that a return to this through the study of memes would be welcome (01:16:47).

• Memes, Hermeneutics, and Ambiguity John Henrik disagreed that memes are the proper vehicle for qualitative rigor because they are a spreading mechanism and resistant to hermeneutics. Rajeev Ram agreed that hermeneutics focuses too much on the “meaning of a thing,” which is not central to the “essence or the exploration of a thing” (01:19:01). Krug expressed faith in the ability to “intuit essences” in a non-linguistic way, which they associated with early phenomenologists. Rolling Barnacle described memes as simplified outlines that provide a generalized instant feeling, but noted their cultural evolution, becoming more complex and requiring niche knowledge, akin to “hieroglyphics” (01:20:09).

• Irony and the Crisis of Meaning in Memes ao fs observed that the evolution of memes has featured the rise of irony, creating a gulf between content and meaning and introducing ambiguity. ao fs suggested that memes, particularly the penguin meme, have become like Rorschach images, revealing more about the interpreters’ beliefs and character than the meme itself, which can lead to both heroic or pessimistic interpretations (01:22:11). Denerah complained that internet discourse and memes disperse meaning because “nothing’s anchored in any fundamental concept anymore,” which results in fragmentation of understanding (01:24:38).

• The Role of Irony in Modern Culture Rolling Barnacle defended irony, arguing that in the current cultural landscape, it is a necessary “protection” and a defense mechanism, a “buffer” that keeps people moving despite the lack of sophisticated, high-status cultural offerings and the trauma of the 20th century (01:26:58). ao fs agreed that irony is part of the crisis and meaning and acts as a defense mechanism, but suggested it also exacerbates the problem (01:28:13). Rajeev Ram framed irony as a technique for navigating what is real in a post-WWII context, where previously grounded concepts were shown to lead to destruction, noting that irony helps distinguish what is substantial without dismissing everything as insubstantial (01:29:04).

• Noble Striving and Resentment Against Greatness John Henrik shared an example concerning the mountain climber Alex Honnold, whose “infinite drive” was denigrated by an article that attempted to tie Honnold to mundane concerns (01:31:57). Krug agreed that noble aims are sometimes incomprehensible to others, including some artists, leading to a kind of resentment (01:33:20). Denerah connected this to postmodernism and the effort to bring greatness down to a “relatable” level, citing Marvel superheroes as an example, arguing this effort is belittling and dehumanizing by setting the relatable norm at a “subhuman” level (01:34:19).

Conclusion of Penguin Discussion and Future Topic Krug concluded the core discussion on the penguin meme, summarizing the key aspects: the wasteland, sublimity, the mountain, leaving the herd, seeking value, and the possibility of embracing death. Krug announced that the next meeting would focus on the topic of irony due to the expressed interest (01:31:02). They also shared Aristotle’s view of the “magnanimous man” who is always ironic with those who are not also great, suggesting that this irony is best when the target does not perceive it, contrasting this with modern uses (01:35:22).

Original Announcement Below

Something strange has captured my attention this month: the internet’s obsession with a lone penguin walking away from its colony toward the mountains. This clip from Werner Herzog’s 2007 documentary Encounters at the End of the World shows an Adélie penguin turning away from the ocean, from food, from his fellow penguins—and away from survival itself—as he marches off toward certain death.

Herzog’s narration asks: “But why?”

That question has spawned millions of memes and think pieces. People see themselves in this penguin, but it isn’t clear what they see. Is this a “Nihilist Penguin,” a “Lonely Penguin,” perhaps a “Heroic Penguin”? I am presently engaged in a book-length study of Nietzsche, and upon seeing all these memes the phrase rang out: What is the meaning of penguinian ideal? Memes are like digital myths, and they don’t lend themselves to singular interpretations, but there are many interesting questions here, chief among them being:

Why does a penguin walking toward the mountains mirror the souls of so many men?

Join us for our next Philosophy Cafe on Friday, January 31st at 2pm EST as we explore this question. I will briefly cover some of Carl Jung’s stuff on the collective unconscious as well as some ideas about value theory—but I’m curious to see what everyone else thinks. Together we’ll grapple with Herzog’s question: “But why?”

Is the Penguin Mountain meme about burnout in hustle culture? Is it about the solemn resignation of a lost society? Or is it perhaps a longing for something greater? I wonder if it may be a symbol for higher things that cannot be easily articulated or explained.

The rise of Linkin Park memes with "Somewhere I Belong” seems to support that possibility, and the line “I wanna feel what I thought was never real” juxtaposed against a Heraclitean mishmash of masculine activities has a certain kind of ‘heroism’ about it. This vibe has been missing in our culture for decades now. I don’t know if I possess the ability to intuit the changes in the culture as a whole, but if I do, then these are all very good signs.

Of course, I could be reading too much into this, since much of my work at the moment is about the philosophy of heroism and genius—but reading too much into things is often insightful too.

We will meet on Saturday, January 31^st at 2pm EST.

Bring your interpretations, bring your ideas, and together we will decode the enigma of the penguin’s march toward the mountains.

If you’re not already a Tortuga Members or a paid subs of Bend Dexter, then I suggest you join us. You can sign up with Stripe here, or with PayPal. We also now have the option of purchasing 6 sessions for $50.

After the session is over, this post will be paywalled with a recording of the session.

-Krug

1. I think this would be really cool but I don’t know what to call it. Vibetics? Vibology? The phenomenology of vibes? I don’t know. In any case, there is much to discover and work on.