That is fine doesn’t indicate this is fine — maybe not on social networking.
The expression doubles as shorthand for when a situation Becomes terrible our brains refuse to grapple with its seriousness. An oil spill has covered the Gulf of Mexico? That is fine. The ice sheets are melting faster than ever before? That is fine. Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee for president of the United States of America? This, also, is nice.
Things are going to be okay
The new alt definition comes from a 2013 webcomic called “On Fire.” From both panels, a dog wearing a hat sits in a kitchen table. The room is engulfed in fire, but the dog says and smiles,”That is nice.” A coffee mug is peacefully lifted by the dog . “I am okay with the events that are unfolding currently,” says the dog, taking a gulp in the mug. Gore is incinerated into by its arm. “That is okay,” says the dog. “Things will be okay.” And the puppy’s face melts like one of those Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The comic is part of Green’s long-running series Gunshow, but just like many of Green’s other powerful creations, including”Dick Butt” and”Staredad,””That Is Fine” has achieved mainstream popularity for a meme.
As stated by Know Your Own Meme, The initial two panels — the puppy saying”This is fine” while surrounded by fire — were posted on Reddit and Imgur at 2014, in which they obtained tens of thousands of upvotes. Ever since then, the two panels have become a meme. As a station identification , the comic was animated by Adult Swim in January of the year.
This Is Fine” is exceptional as a meme for two reasons. One, while Sometimes altered, it utilized in an unaltered state. On Twitter, for example, someone might write some information that is upsetting and attach the image. It’s still climbing in popularity and usage, despite now being nearly two decades old.
To unravel what provides”That is Fine” both relatable and ageless qualities, we spoke with its founder.
Chris Plante: What inspired”On Fire”?
KC Green: This was in 2013. I think I still struggled With myself — with getting my anti-depressants and things right. It is only a feeling you have. I composed that and this comic was all.
Can you recall a moment when it came back into your own life?
I [first] saw the two top panels shared on Twitter or Facebook. [The article ] stated,”What finals are like” — everybody was going through finals at the time in college or whatever. Plus it was just”This Is Fine,” and that was it. And it just kept going from there. [Laughs]
Why has it become so popular?
Because it apparently. It’s a feeling we all Get of, just like,”Matters are burning around me, but you got to have smile occasionally” It is a basic human [feeling],”Well, what are you going to do?”
Why would you think meme is merely the first two panels and not the full comic?
Brevity. Quick memes. That’s all people today want. And that’s all That a few of them have seen. I was actually in Seattle two weeks ago for a comic series, and I chose, alright, I’ll print out some prints of this one, and that I created”Dick Butt” stickers. I put them. Everyone admits it and says,”I have just seen the top two panels. Oh my gosh, there is more to the comic.” I had some kid come up and shout,”Memes! Look at all the memes!”
Can it be weird or difficult that, at its hottest, your creation is essentially freely offered?
It’s only the webcomic version that we’ve all sort of figured out over the years –“we” meaning other webcomic artists. I have a store through TopatoCo Where we sell prints of this comic. I make materials and shirts. If people need it, I try to monopolize this one picture, as, hey, I really could use it. I sell books of my work. I have Patreon. There is always a great deal of different things which help me make a living from what I do. Plus I do a great deal of freelance here and there. Occasionally Adult Swim comes around you and says,”Can we animate’This really is Fine’?”
It was last year when they contacted me, and I said absolutely.
What type of money is made off of a meme? Could”This Is Fine,” for example, cover a year of your life?
Well the Adult Swim thing was nice. Whether it paid for a year of my entire life, I really don’t know, but it did help for awhile, especially around tax time. I split that using all the animator, Shmorky, that revived all the things . The shirt is really selling super well, I’ll say . We made a edition after which a version. I don’t know figures but it’s sold a lot. also, with the image on the market. When I pushed it , like if I wanted to it probably could, but I am still making comic books of my own. I am still drawing and creating new stories. I focused on this. And the money comes from various places. I’m making a fine living off it. Not great. If that is what it’s coming to I am not super wealthy, or anything.
You are able to keep doing this.
Yeah, I’m in a position to keep at where I am at.
Is it possible”This Is Fine” has endured, because it’s like our generation’s “Hang in there” poster?
[Laughs] Yeah, it has a similar feeling, like hang in there, we’re almost to Friday.Perhaps that is why the 2 panels are very popular. There is still hope.
That’s what I have wondered. He does not melt — and it is kind of Grotesque at the conclusion. It is easier to sell the two than the entire Panel where the dog melts into nothingness.
