Rock Paper Scissors in Pop Culture
Rock, Paper, Scissors is more than a game – it's a cultural phenomenon. From Hollywood to anime to million-dollar art deals: the game shows up everywhere.
The Big Bang Theory
Sheldon Cooper made the extended version "Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock" world-famous. In the episode "The Lizard-Spock Expansion" (Season 2, Episode 8), Sheldon explains the rules – and the scene went viral. The variant had already been invented (1998 by Sam Kass), but it was the show that introduced it to a global audience of millions.
Anime & Manga
In Japanese pop culture, Jan-ken is omnipresent. In the anime Hunter x Hunter, an entire plot arc revolves around an overpowered Jan-ken attack. In Naruto and Dragon Ball, disputes are regularly settled with Rock, Paper, Scissors. This shows how deeply rooted the game is in Japanese culture.
The $20 Million Auction
In 2005, Japanese electronics mogul Takashi Hashiyama had to decide whether Christie's or Sotheby's would auction his painting collection (value: $20 million). His solution? A round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Christie's won with Scissors against Paper – allegedly on the advice of an employee's 11-year-old daughter, who said "Scissors always wins."
Memes & Internet Culture
The game has spawned countless memes. The "RPS Champion" meme shows someone playing a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors with exaggerated seriousness. The "Expanding Brain" meme went viral with RPS variations: normal brain for Rock-Paper-Scissors, glowing brain for the Lizard-Spock version, and Galaxy Brain for RPS-101 with 101 gestures.