In the constantly shifting world of internet culture, there is no character so persistent and so easily repurposable as Wojak. Being quite simple and supposedly having a bald head, this character also has a very distinct seem of longing, and is popularly called the “Feels Guy” online.
Over a decade ago, Wojak birthed an extensive variety of captions and came to represent everything from hopeless despair and sympathy, to the comedic portrayal of today's social problems. So without further ado, let the Wojak origin story begin. Here is all you need to know about Wojak and how he became a staple for internet culture today.
What is Wojak?
Wojak at first glance might appear as a very basic cartoon – a bald man with a slight frown on his face and a thick black outline. Of course, Wojak is likable and relatable because he doesn’t strive to be sensational or sophisticated; he’s just a man. Wojak embodies the “feels” of everyday life: such as; sadness, frustration, nostalgia, and at times, happiness.
The character started to appear in 2009 in the blog known as Sad and Useless. However, reaching the heights of internet stardom was not until the guy got in touch with the phrase “I know that feel, bro” – the catchphrase for virtually all the internet users who felt a little sorry for themselves.
While everyone was just reusing the common emojis and stock responses, Wojak brought the character’s emotions that seemed real. And from that point, the incredible path of Wojak into a meme star began.
The history of Wojak memes
By 2011, Wojak began appearing on 4chan, which is popular for creating and encouraging most of the internet memes. It became clear that users adopted Wojak as an emblem for “the feels” – internet shorthand for those hard-to-articulate emotions we all have, but would never actually say aloud. As the user base expanded, Wojak became an avatar for such diverse subjects as heartbreak, loneliness, solidarity, and empathy.
The Wojak family
The strength of Wojak is the fact that he transcends one format. In recent years, he evolved through various personas that reflect various social commentary, cultural satire or an extension of personality. Here are some of the most popular Wojak variants:
NPC Wojak
NPC (Non-Playable Character) Wojak consists of a gray face, which looks just as expressionless as one would expect from a generic NPC. It became more popular as a representation of those considered not to have independent thought; a “automaton” in society going around as a puppet in a cycle of fashion and the set dogma.
NPC Wojak is employed in politically themed memes, in order to depict what some users consider to be a herd mentality or inability to critically think in the public discourse.
Coomer Wojak
One of the most popular Wojak images is the “Coomer”, a semi-bald man with messy hair, and slightly messy clothes who paints a too-realistic picture of an addict. Coomer Wojak was popularized during the “No Nut November” – (a trend where men tried not to perform certain actions in a month as a joke), and at the same time, combating excessiveness.
Big Brain Wojak and Brainlet Wojak
With the “Big Brain” Wojak variant, a character with an abnormally enlarged head and often glasses, used to make fun of intelligence, or so-called "know-it-alls." This meme also has a counter meme called the “Brainlet” Wojak – a somewhat slouched, small-headed Wojak that depicts persons thought to be of inferior intellect.
Tradwife Wojak and Wifejak
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Based on traditional gender roles, the “Tradwife” Wojak refers to a more conservative attitude, and the “Wifejak” is a mocking version of relationship clichés. These forms of Wojak tend to emerge most prominently whenever people discuss gender roles, modern dating, and expectations in society while being both admired and criticized.
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