PEPERWICK KING | 1175 AD | CARVED IVORY | AMONG THE MOST CLOSELY EXAMINED RELICS OF MEDIEVAL MEME CRAFT, THIS IVORY FIGURE, OFTEN CALLED THE PEPERWICK KING, PRESENTS A WEARY POSTURE AND HAND TO CHEEK GESTURE INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE AS THE UNIVERSAL EXPRESSION OF CONTEMPLATIVE EXHAUSTION. CARVED WITH DELIBERATE RESTRAINT, THE KING'S SLUMPED STANCE SUGGESTS A RULER NOT CRUSHED BY ARMIES OR FAMINE, BUT BY THE UNENDING RESPONSIBILITY OF OVERSEEING THE REALM OF SHARED IDEAS. IN THIS PERIOD, THE STEWARDSHIP OF A MEME WAS IMAGINED AS A ROYAL BURDEN. THE KING STANDS UPON A CHECKERED GROUND, AN EMBLEM OF STRATEGY, FORESIGHT, AND THE MANY UNSEEN MOVES REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN BALANCE WITHIN THE COMMUNAL IMAGINATION. HIS CROWN, SLIGHTLY ASKEW, HINTS AT THE STRAIN OF HOLDING AUTHORITY OVER NARRATIVES THAT CONSTANTLY SHIFT, MUTATE, AND REASSERT THEMSELVES IN UNEXPECTED WAYS. THE SMALL CURVED HORN CLUTCHED AT HIS SIDE SYMBOLIZED ALERTNESS, THE READINESS TO SIGNAL WHEN A MEME NEEDED GUIDING, CORRECTING, OR CALMING BEFORE IT OVERTOOK THE POPULACE. YET HIS FACE, CARVED WITH DELIBERATE SAG IN THE LIDS AND MOUTH, CONVEYS THE TRUTH KNOWN EVEN IN THE 12TH CENTURY, THAT NO RULER, NO MATTER HOW VIGILANT, CAN COMPLETELY MASTER THE TIDES OF SHARED HUMOR AND SYMBOLISM.

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