STEM stem feed USA Math Team Olympiad beats China for the first time in 30 years I used the stones to destroy the stones
The image is a two-part meme. The top half shows four individuals standing together, each wearing medals and smiling. They are partially draped with an American flag, indicating a moment of patriotic celebration or accomplishment. A caption accompanying this image states that the "USA Math Team Olympiad beats China for the first time in 30 years."
The bottom half of the image shows a character from a popular movie franchise with a serious and somewhat remorseful expression. The accompanying text says, "I used the stones to destroy the stones," which is a reference to a line from the movie where the character explains how he achieved a pyrrhic victory by using powerful objects to destroy the same objects, negating their existence.
The humor in this meme comes from a juxtaposition of concepts. On one hand, the top image is a genuine celebration of an academic achievement by the USA Math Team Olympiad. On the other hand, the bottom image and quote liken this victory to a scenario where the solution paradoxically leads to the destruction of the tools used for that solution.
The comedic effect is further enhanced by the implication that the members of the USA Math Team, who have reportedly just won against China, appear to be of East Asian descent. The joke suggests an ironic twist where the USA has "used" individuals who might share heritage with their competitors (akin to the "stones") to achieve a victory over those competitors, hence "destroying" the proverbial "stones."
The notion of the American melting pot is at play in this meme, where people of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds represent the United States, embodying the diversity of the country, especially in contexts such as international competitions where national identity is at the forefront.
Finally, the meme relies on the audience's understanding of cultural stereotypes, geopolitical competition in academics (especially in mathematics), and movie references to land its humorous intention. Without knowledge of these contexts, the image might not appear funny and could even be confusing. The layered humor here is meant for a specific audience engaged with popular culture and current events. STEM stem feed USA Math Team Olympiad beats China for the first time in 30 years I used the stones to destroy the stones
