The 'Water From Mississippi River' meme belongs to the 'cursed ingredient' subgenre of internet humor, characterized by surreal and absurd additions to otherwise normal lists. It typically features a highlighted text box from a recipe or a textbook suggesting the use of Mississippi River water, implying a result that is either toxic, magical, or nonsensical. The meme gained popularity across Tumblr and TikTok, where users paired the phrase with images of bizarre-looking food or industrial sludge. It serves as a commentary on the perceived 'grittiness' of the river's water while leaning heavily into weirdcore and post-ironic comedy styles.