How Cats Took Over the Internet, A Retrospective of How Felines Became the Darlings of the Web

Cat Sits on Keyboard

How Cats Took Over the Internet” is an in-depth retrospective exhibition that looks at how fluffy felines of all shapes and sizes became the darlings of the web. The exhibition, curated by Jason Eppink, takes place at the Museum of the Moving Image from August 7, 2015–January 31, 2016.

How Cats Took Over the Internet tells the history of cats online, examining phenomena like Caturday, lolcats, cat videos, celebrity cats, and more to unearth why images and videos of the feline kind have transfixed a generation of web users. Touching on concepts like anthropomorphism, the aesthetics of cuteness, the Bored at Work Network, and the rise of user-generated content, this exhibit takes a critical look at a deceptively frivolous phenomenon.

image via Museum of the Moving Image

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.