This sounds really interesting and plausible. I've been thinking about fanfic and medieval allegory plays, specifically how the audience and the creators react to specific, known "types." This is a more character-based reflection than a narrative-level reflection, but I think there is something to translating tools of literary reception and transmission, not to mention folklore, into the "etherrealm" of memes and viral concepts.

I'll look at this again when I have more brain and less baby shower (am in NYC on family business) :)