As an immigrant, I became intrigued by the phenomenon of ‘collective memory.’

A while after moving from the Netherlands to New Zealand, I realised that a large piece of my personality was built on the shared history I had with the people I grew up with. For example: jokes. Most jokes are based on shared knowledge between you and your audience, without you even thinking to check this beforehand. And also, Usually, only the most subtle visual or verbal clue is needed to understand what is meant. Of course, that is the power of ‘jokes; explaining them destroys them’, right? Simply think of the favourite TV series you might have watched in your younger years. For instance, imitating a specific voice or phrase from a character might be a way of connecting with a friend who used to watch the show too. We can do these sorts of things without thinking too hard about them. However, in a new country, this kind of cultural reference point becomes useless.

Though, at least, the wider and more international part still applies.
Long story short: our collective memory contains thousands of faces, names, brands, objects, scandals, disasters, and victories. As I mentioned above, you often only need a small clue to understand what is meant. Two musical notes … and you can sing along to the song. Just a few initials might be enough for certain celebrities or brands. A low-resolution image from a security camera can direct you to the criminal—or to the hero.

No detailed image is needed to recognise Walter White, or ‘Heisenberg,’ from Breaking Bad.