The Brief: Flex tape memes propose simple solutions to complex issues.
DEEP DIVE
Flex tape memes are based on an infamous TV commercial for the brand Flex Seal. In the commercial, spokesperson Phil Swift enthusiastically shows off the power of Flex Tape to instantly create waterproof seals and plug leaks. An image of Phil Swift dramatically applying a piece of flex tape to a broken water tank has become a popular image macro meme. These memes use the image from the commercial to represent someone ‘slapping’ a questionable solution onto a problem.
Often these memes seem to use the Flex Tape as a metaphor for a weak solution to a problem, but other memes imply that it would be an effective one. The meaning of this meme may vary somewhat depending on the amount of faith that its creator has in the power of the product.
The Flex Seal brand’s commercials have inspired a variety of memes based on Phil Swift’s apparent extreme zeal for Flex Seal products. Like other TV commercials, these are particularly cheesy and over-the-top, making them ideal meme material.
Flex Tape vs. Water Tank Memes
30-50 feral hogs as a solution to everything:
the sweet sweet relief I felt at logging on and seeing 30-50 feral hogs pic.twitter.com/72caugvifm
— 🌙The Desert Prophet Returns💀 (@camillagluh) August 5, 2019
This meme is particularly popular on Reddit.
Jorgen will get you from memes
On video games being blamed for mass shootings:
Smh bruh 😤 from teenagers
Pewdiepie’s Minecraft videos as therapy:
Its true tho from memes
The anti-meme version: