The 'PTSD Clarinet Boy' meme features a photograph of a young boy playing the clarinet with a vacant, intensely focused expression that resembles a 'thousand-yard stare.' While the original source of the image is a simple school-style photograph, internet users began layering the image over war footage or adding dramatic captions to imply the boy is experiencing a vivid, traumatic flashback. It is most commonly used to represent the sudden, intrusive memory of an embarrassing social interaction or a deeply regrettable life choice that hits you at the most inconvenient times. Its popularity stems from its perfect portrayal of internal existential dread hidden behind a mundane, everyday activity.