The large and sprawling fanbase of The Lord of the Rings is a case study in just how far a high-quality creative work can be taken and reinterpreted for the sake of continuing to satisfy that audience.

Save maybe one another franchise that shall not be named, there is no other series of books that has inspired so many movies, TV shows, games, and other spinoffs throughout the entirety of this century so far. Inevitably, these vary in quality somewhat. At their best, they are some of the most accomplished works of art in the modern day, and at their worst, well, they will be forgotten to the sands of time eventually. 

Even when it doesn’t seem like the entertainment industry can wring any more content out of Middle-earth, they somehow manage to find new ideas to pursue. The audience and their penchant for memes acts similarly, as so many simply cannot stop joking about their favorite fantasy series. The texts of Tolkien are an infinitely renewable resource in this way, as new legions of fans find different ways to interpret them at every level. 

At this point, the memers are basically contributors to the already hefty lore that can be found in LOTR, and that is no mean feat. It comes from years of effort, and a good sense of humor. It feels even easier to appreciate the majesty of Middle-earth when are able to make light of it, or at least, that is what the internet seems to think. We are inclined to agree.