Assignment #5: Chuck Norris Facts (Giselle Beltran)

Chuck Norris Facts

“Chuck Norris counted to infinity—twice”

“Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding”

“Chuck Norris takes care of his guardian angel”

“Ghosts sit around the campfire and tell Chuck Norris stories”

In high school, my friend and I ran for the Senior Class President and Vice President positions together. We both launched our campaign together and used the slogan, “Vote Syndy and Giselle, Chuck Norris would do it.” I don’t know what made us win that year—our popularity, or Chuck Norris’ popularity. I give infinite thanks to Chuck for our victory that year. 

A man of many talents, Chuck Norris began his acting career in the 1980s and had previously founded his own martial arts school. The use of “Chuck Norris facts” didn’t become an iconic internet phenomenon until 2005. Followed by his hyper-masculine and overall bada$$ character in Walker, Texas Ranger, actor Chuck Norris became an allusion to what everyone wanted to be, but couldn’t be. Chuck Norris suddenly became more powerful than God, than George W. Bush, than any other figure in life, as we knew it. Inspired by Conan O’Brien on his late night show, Chuck Norris became a seriously comedic fad. In fact, the movement of the “Chuck Norris Facts” has arguably become more popular than Chuck Norris as a television actor. Like myself in high school, I was quoting Chuck Norris quotes/jokes without knowing who he was or what his acting career entailed. In fact, still to this day, I have yet to see an episode of Walker. 

Chuck Norris became well aware of his internet meme and publicly responded to one of the websites where you can find a list of “Chuck Norris Facts” (there were many, but the most popular being http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/). He acknowledged the humor in the memes and announced that while he was not offended, he also expected and hoped for people to take his seriously as well, for he was very actively involved in political and philanthropic endeavors. And in fact, he very much believed in God. 

There were many similar trends following the Chuck Norris facts episode, most of them happening abroad in India and Egypt. Men with similar qualities were coined as the “fad” in those countries at that time. In Armenia, Chuck Norris’ name was found written on a ballot as a candidate for their parliament. It’s safe to say that Chuck Norris is just incredibly awesome.

 According to Google Insights, Chuck Norris was the most popular in 2005-06, when the fad was first created and was most commonly known in the United States. Since then, it has maintained at a relatively static level of interest. Please refer below.