Papyrus Strikes Back: Gen Z Revives A Meme Legend

In an unexpected twist of typographic fate, the font Papyrus—once the bane of designers and the subject of countless memes—is experiencing a surprising resurgence.

This renaissance is largely driven by Gen Z, who have embraced the font with a mixture of irony and genuine appreciation on platforms like TikTok.

While you might not see the maligned font making its way back into serious user interfaces or professional designs, it's quickly becoming a staple in the world of memes and online humor, where its quirky, outdated vibe is celebrated with a wink and a nod.

A History

Papyrus, designed by Chris Costello in 1982, was intended to evoke an ancient, weathered appearance.

For years, it was ubiquitous in school projects, church bulletins, and amateur designs.

Its overuse led to it becoming a punchline in the design world, culminating in a famous 2017 Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Ryan Gosling obsessing over its use in the "Avatar" movie logo.

Yes, you read that correctly.

James Cameron's groundbreaking 2009 film "Avatar" used a slightly modified version of Papyrus for its title card, a choice that baffled many and cemented the font's reputation as a go-to for misguided attempts at exoticism.

But now, in a twist worthy of M. Night Shyamalan (who, incidentally, has not used Papyrus in his films... yet), Gen Z has reclaimed the font.

On TikTok, creators are using Papyrus in their videos, often with a knowing wink to its reputation.

This ironic embrace has led to a genuine appreciation for the font's unique character.

The Return Of The King

The resurgence of Papyrus speaks to larger trends in Gen Z culture: a love for retro aesthetics, a tendency to reclaim and recontextualise maligned cultural artifacts, and a desire to subvert expectations.

It's also a reminder that in the cyclical world of design and pop culture, today's punch line can become tomorrow's cutting-edge choice.

As requests to identify Papyrus flood Reddit's r/identifythisfont, it's clear that this once-derided typeface is enjoying a second life.

"If it's corny and distressed, it may be Papyrus," the Reddit automod states, hinting at the lingering disdain for a font that continues to be disliked by those "in the know".

They do say ignorance is bliss.

Whether this trend will lead to a broader reassessment of other maligned fonts (Comic Sans, we're looking at you) remains to be seen.

But for now, Papyrus is having its moment in the sun—or should we say, its moment in the ancient Egyptian desert?