By 2023, the “This Close” meme had been around for a few years, but it wasn’t until a Star Wars connection was made that it truly exploded in popularity. For those unfamiliar with the meme, it features a hand gesture where the index finger and thumb are very close together, with the caption “This Close” implying that something almost happened but didn’t quite make it.
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The Star Wars Connection
The Star Wars connection came about when a fan noticed that the “This Close” hand gesture looked suspiciously like the hand gesture made by Darth Vader in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. In that scene, Vader tells Luke Skywalker that he is “this close” to joining the Dark Side.
The comparison between the two hand gestures was too good to pass up, and soon the “This Close” meme was being used in all sorts of Star Wars-related contexts. For example, a popular version of the meme featured an image of Han Solo frozen in carbonite with the caption “This Close to being a popsicle.”
Reaction to the Meme
As with any popular meme, there were mixed reactions to the “This Close” phenomenon. Some people found it hilarious and endlessly entertaining, while others found it annoying and overused.
One Star Wars fan had this to say: “I love the creativity of the Star Wars fan community, and this meme is a great example of that. It’s fun to see how people can take something as small as a hand gesture and turn it into a cultural phenomenon.”
Another fan had a different opinion: “I’m so sick of seeing this meme everywhere. It was funny at first, but now it’s just overused and unoriginal.”
How to Create Your Own “This Close” Meme
If you’re interested in creating your own “This Close” meme, it’s actually quite simple. All you need is an image or video that features something that almost happened, and then add the “This Close” caption with the hand gesture.
For example, you could use a video of a skateboarder almost landing a trick, and then add the caption “This Close to being a pro.”
Tips for Creating a Successful Meme
Of course, not every meme is going to be a hit. Here are some tips for creating a successful “This Close” meme:
- Make sure the image or video is something that people can relate to
- Keep the caption short and punchy
- Use the hand gesture to emphasize how close something came to happening
- Share your meme on social media and in relevant online communities
Conclusion
The “This Close” meme may have started as a simple hand gesture, but its connection to Star Wars helped it become a cultural phenomenon. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that the meme has had an impact on internet culture and will likely continue to be a popular way for people to express their almost-moments.
