What do Edward Hopper, the TNMT, and Banksy Have in Common?

I’ve just discovered Edward Hopper’s work. I’m no art buff, but the guy really is amazing. Edward Hopper, “Nighthawks,” 1942. Well, “discovered” might be overstating it. The real spark was one of my favourite memes: Shredder heaving a chair through the diner window and challenging the Turtles to an honest fight. Russian text says “Come on then—Bring it on!” Pardon my ignorance—I thought it was a cartoon still, it fits so well. But once I actually looked at Hopper’s painting, you can spot the differences: the colours, the chairs, the broken glass. So I Googled it—and wound up chasing an anteater. Turns out that anteater is some ancient meme also. Keep digging (or delving? :), and you stumble upon a Banksy piece. I can’t swear to it, but that cheeky anteater looks ripped straight from Banksy’s playbook. And that’s how our Ninja Turtles meme found its way back to Hopper—via an anteater and Banksy. Banksy, “Are You Using That Chair?,” 2005. By the way, there are loads of spoofs of “Nighthawks,” and even Ridley Scott admitted the painting shaped the look of his movie Blade Runner. I’ll share the ones I like best:
I was constantly waving a reproduction of this painting under the noses of the production team to illustrate the look and mood I was after. Ridley Scott, Director
Gottfried Helnwein, in one of the most famous parodies titled “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” swapped in James Dean, Humphrey Bogart and Marilyn Monroe for the diners, and made Elvis Presley the bartender. Sybary, “Nighthawks Have Perished,” 2012. Matt Groening, The Simpsons homage. Rosmary Torola, staff illustrator for the Columbia Spectator.  Dean Rohrer, “Empty”. ~ #2k20