- The mascot of the inaugural Pop-Tarts Bowl stole the hearts of football fans nationwide.
- The game's victors devoured actual Pop-Tarts, as the pastry paragon descended into a giant toaster.
- Did we love it? Were we disturbed? Memes about the nihilistic spectacle capture the human condition.
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app
Advertisement
It's been a long time since we've had a really good meme online.
And even longer since we had one that speaks to the helpless nadirs of humanity in this country: to remain joyous and pure as we drown in the molasses of capitalism.
On Thursday evening, the human Pop-Tarts mascot of the inaugural college football bowl between Kansas State and North Carolina State gave us just that. The Kansas State Wildcats won the match and were rewarded with a morbid and delectable prize: Players consumed actual Pop-Tarts as a human-sized Pop-Tarts mascot descended into a giant set toaster to be (fake) cooked.
Sports journalist Rodger Sherman asked the mascot's handler if it was "offensive" to eat the pastries in front of the mascot. "ITS [sic] THEIR DREAM," he apparently yelled back.
Advertisement
By Friday, the mascot and the entire spectacle became the perfect fodder and canvas for discussing how we're all feeling these days. The Pop-Tarts mascot became a mascot for the human condition.
he is excited to die. he craves oblivion. his life is nothing more than a bulwark between himself and the peace of drifting away through the infinite black nothingness. eat upon his flesh, so he may be free. pic.twitter.com/T0kMcraMoz
— Skyler Higley (@skyler_higley) December 29, 2023The mascot represents our creeping and penetrating anxieties.
Like Barbie, the Pop-Tart smiles brightly but looks to be on the precipice of questioning its existence and will to live.
People on X (formerly Twitter) noted that the Pop-Tarts mascot holding a sign reading "dreams really do come true" as it's baked in the toaster machine is a brilliant commentary on how corporate work culture kills all our souls in the end.
Advertisement
To the Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot who's accepted its fate, smiling with a dream in hand as it descends into hell: You are me. You are us. For the last few days of 2023, you are our god. We feel seen.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyprc%2BpsGaclaW%2Fpr%2FSnptmppmdtq210q2gnGWgpL1uwMCrq6xlnZbApLvTZpmeq6Riuqa5xGamn2ViZX90eZBr