Ford We were proudly founded by Henry Ford
The image presented is a meme, which often combines text with a visual element to convey humor, satire, or commentary. This particular meme features a close-up of a cartoon character with an exaggerated expression of discomfort or awkwardness. The character has one eye half-closed, and the eyebrows are drawn together in a manner suggesting distress or unease. This expression sets the tone for the textual content overlaying the image.
The text on the top part of the image has a background dialogue format, with two statements purportedly made by representatives of the Ford and Toyota car companies. Ford's statement reads, "We were proudly founded by Henry Ford." Toyota's response follows, "Our founder was the visionary Kiichiro Toyoda." These statements reflect pride in the legacy and vision of the founders of these well-known automotive companies.
Below the dialogue, there is a single word associated with another car company: "Volkswagen." This word stands alone with no further elaborative text, contrasting with the preceding statements. It seems to be left to linger purposefully without the expressed pride of the other two companies, implying there may be something less laudable or humorous about Volkswagen's origins that is left unspoken.
The humor in this meme is likely derived from the implied punchline that is Volkswagen's history. Unlike Ford and Toyota, who boast reputable founders known for their innovation and impact on the automotive industry, Volkswagen has a more controversial origin story. The company's foundation is closely tied to Nazi Germany, with Adolf Hitler dictating the development of the "People's Car," which later came to be known as the Volkswagen Beetle.
The meme graphic also includes a small badge in the bottom left corner with the phrase "UpBeat HE-Man" and a likeness of the cartoon character He-Man giving a thumbs-up. This seemingly irrelevant addition contributes an extra layer of absurdity to the meme and may serve as a watermark or a humorous juxtaposition.
The image may be funny to people who understand the historical context and appreciate the subtlety of the punchline. The meme leverages the stark contrast between the proud declarations of Ford and Toyota and the implied shame or awkwardness Volkswagen might feel. The cartoon character's expression embodies Volkswagen's imagined reaction, comically capturing an emotive response without needing to explicitly state the punchline, thus using the meme format to convey humor through inference and historical knowledge. Ford We were proudly founded by Henry Ford Toyota Our founder was the visionary Kiichiro Toyoda Volkswagen
