How Spongebob defined Gen Z's sense of humor

This is a video essay about Spongebob Squarepants in which i make the argument that the show defined the sense of humor of gen Z. I argue that the absurdist stories and jokes formed the foundations of our sense of humor and influenced other media that we grew up watching. I also argue that the show was released at the perfect time to become a cultural touchstone as gen z, 'zoomers,' were the first generation to grow up online. As a result, Spongebob became a huge part of internet culture, especially with memes. I also point out how the show handles darker themes which is uncommon for children's programs. I specifically argue that Squidward Tentacles became an icon of nihilism for zoomers, who grew up disenfranchised with the word due to the chaotic and violent nature of it being broadcast to us 24/7 over the internet. I cite examples from the show including the episodes, "Wormy," "SB-129," "I Had an Accident," and many more.

OliSUNvia's video:    • what makes gen z humor so interesting?  

Chapters:
Intro 00:00
Absurdism in Spongebob 1:12
Spongebob's influence on Meme culture 7:43
Squidward and nihilism 12:00