The PBS Idea Channel meme draws inspiration from the long-running YouTube series hosted by Mike Rugnetta, known for its rapid-fire delivery and intellectual analysis of seemingly trivial pop culture topics. The meme typically mimics the show's signature style of posing a provocative, often absurd, philosophical question—such as whether a specific video game character is a metaphor for a school of thought. It gained traction among internet enthusiasts who enjoyed the show's blend of high-brow academia and low-brow media, serving as a template for making mock deep-dives or genuine satirical critiques of modern trends.