A blogger, Spanner, over at the escapist has made an interesting assertion: that Lara Croft's boobs are a meme, citing that this is the sort of thing Dawkins had in mind when he coined the term.

I'm ambivalent toward this claim; I would hasten to agree that Lara's voluminous mammaries are certainly significant, picturesque, and in some instances a real deal maker. But memes? Not so much.

Instead, I'd offer the claim that, like other famous body parts (Bob Hope's nose, JLo's ass), they enjoy a measure of celebrity or at least are iconic enough that, when you mention them, the same image will be evoked in everyone's mind.  Nothing more, though certainly nothing less.

Perhaps it is merely an argument of definition. When I consider a meme I think of something that is oft repeated (like a Rick Roll) or partially adapted (the Python "Camelot" number as done by Legos), sometimes both. Again, I would say that the sensuous and marketable bosoms of our favorite tomb raider are indeed noteworthy, but do not seem to fall into either of these categories.

At least, not as easily as they'd fall into her D-cup brassiere.

[NOTE: If there is something(s) I have overlooked, please feel free to point it out.]

EDIT: saw this over at Graph Jam; had to put it up.