About
The phrase “Is It Possible To Learn This Power?” is an instantly recognizable quote from Anakin Skywalker in the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Originating from a pivotal scene in the movie, a screenshot capturing this very line has transcended its cinematic roots to become a popular reaction image across the internet. This meme perfectly encapsulates a sense of awe, aspiration, and sometimes, humorous disbelief when confronted with an extraordinary ability or concept. It’s used online to express reverence, often tinged with irony, for something perceived as incredibly impressive or unattainable.
Origin
The origin of this meme is firmly planted in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, released on May 19th, 2005. In a crucial scene that shapes Anakin Skywalker’s descent to the dark side, Chancellor Palpatine (later revealed to be Darth Sidious) manipulates Anakin with tales of forbidden knowledge. Palpatine recounts “The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis The Wise,” a dark legend about a Sith Lord who possessed the power to cheat death and save others from dying. Intrigued and desperate to save his wife Padmé, Anakin, portrayed by Hayden Christensen, leans in, captivated by Palpatine’s words, played by Ian McDiarmid. At the climax of this manipulative monologue, Anakin asks the fateful question, “Is it possible to learn this power?”
While initial discussions of this scene likely occurred on various fan forums and online communities dedicated to Star Wars immediately after the film’s release, the isolation of this specific quote and its meme potential took some time to emerge. One of the earliest instances of the scene being highlighted online comes from a YouTube clip posted by user GoldGoall on January 28th, 2013. This video, showcasing the iconic exchange, garnered over 25,000 views, suggesting an early recognition of the quote’s meme-worthy nature and its resonance with audiences.
Spread
The meme’s spread gained momentum in the following years, particularly across image-sharing and social media platforms. On October 2nd, 2016, Imgur user Actualdeadpool shared a GIF of the scene. This GIF, visually encapsulating the memorable moment, quickly garnered over 1,100 views within three years, indicating its growing popularity and shareability within online communities.
In March of the subsequent year, on March 17th, 2017, Instagram user @ohmyforce further contributed to the meme’s proliferation by posting a two-panel meme directly utilizing the scene. This image macro format, contrasting Palpatine’s enticing words with Anakin’s eager question, resonated well on Instagram, amassing over 1,300 likes in approximately two years.
The meme’s versatility and comedic potential became even more apparent when the Facebook account Just Jedi Things, on January 5th, 2018, employed the reaction image in a humorous context. They posted a two-panel meme juxtaposing the Anakin reaction with a diagram depicting a man urinating incorrectly. This application of the meme, highlighting its use in expressing awe (or mock awe) at even mundane or absurd skills, proved highly successful, accumulating over 4,300 reactions, 1,200 comments, and 1,200 shares within a year. This example showcased the meme’s adaptability beyond its original Star Wars context and into broader internet humor.
Various Examples
The “Is It Possible to Learn This Power?” meme has been applied to a wide array of situations, consistently expressing admiration, often humorously exaggerated, for diverse skills, achievements, or even bizarre occurrences. The examples below illustrate the meme’s flexibility and its enduring appeal in online communication.
One popular iteration humorously attributes the directing and writing prowess of Star Wars to George Lucas by using the reaction image after a mock movie poster. This plays on the fanbase’s complex relationship with Lucas’s directing while still acknowledging his iconic creation.
Another example showcases the meme’s use in marveling at unusual lifestyle choices. The image of Anakin accompanies the text “When you meet someone who enjoys life without drugs or alcohol,” expressing exaggerated awe at a lifestyle perceived as difficult to achieve or maintain in modern society.
The meme can also be used in response to outlandish news stories or claims. One example uses the reaction to a news headline stating someone “smoked a 3 pounds joint to prove that it was for own consumption,” highlighting the absurdity and disbelief with Anakin’s iconic question.
The meme extends to online gaming and streaming culture as well. Another example simply states “HL Zo0M Is it possible to learn this power? Not from a jedi,” likely referencing impressive gameplay or skills observed in the game “Half-Life” or during a Zoom meeting, applying the meme to online feats of skill or even technical prowess.
The meme can even be used to express awe at scientific calculations or improbable scenarios. In a humorous example involving physics and cooking, the meme is used after a detailed calculation about the velocity needed to cook a chicken with a single slap. This absurd scenario perfectly utilizes the meme to express mock admiration for an impossible “power.”
Finally, the meme finds application in relatable everyday struggles. The reaction image paired with the text about the contrasting bathroom habits of someone who is quick versus someone who needs extensive preparation humorously applies the meme to a common, if slightly crude, experience.
These diverse examples showcase the enduring appeal and adaptability of the “Is It Possible to Learn This Power?” meme, demonstrating its effectiveness in expressing a wide range of reactions from genuine awe to humorous disbelief across countless online contexts.
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External References
[1] Imgur – Dump
[2] Instagram – @ohmyforce’s Post
[3] Facebook – Just Jedi Things’ Post
