The 'They Live Sunglasses' meme originates from John Carpenter's 1988 cult classic sci-fi film, where protagonist Nada discovers a pair of sunglasses that reveal the world as it truly is: a monochrome wasteland controlled by skeletal aliens who use subliminal messages like 'OBEY' and 'CONSUME' to keep humanity docile. In meme culture, the template is used as a tool for social commentary or cynicism, contrasting a seemingly benign subject in the first frame with its perceived 'ugly truth' in the second frame. It has become a staple for critics of capitalism, politics, and social media, serving as a visual shorthand for 'waking up' to a hidden reality.