Old Man Whirly!
https://www.vice.com/en/article/wx5kdx/how-the-far-right-weaponised-memes
The far-right has always appreciated the value of propaganda – and had a knack for it.
But after the resounding defeat of fascism – and the discrediting of its ideology – in World War II, traditional far-right propaganda just didn’t hit the same. A new mode of political messaging was required that could somehow get around the general public’s aversion to overtly racist, bigoted politics.
With the rise of social media, that new tool had arrived. Enter the meme: a powerful new mode of pop cultural language that has helped give far-right ideas and values renewed global reach and influence over the past decade.
As US white supremacist leader Richard Spencer boasted to VICE News in 2016: “We ‘memed’ alt-right into existence, and it’s now almost a household name.”
The far-right has always appreciated the value of propaganda – and had a knack for it.
But after the resounding defeat of fascism – and the discrediting of its ideology – in World War II, traditional far-right propaganda just didn’t hit the same. A new mode of political messaging was required that could somehow get around the general public’s aversion to overtly racist, bigoted politics.
With the rise of social media, that new tool had arrived. Enter the meme: a powerful new mode of pop cultural language that has helped give far-right ideas and values renewed global reach and influence over the past decade.
As US white supremacist leader Richard Spencer boasted to VICE News in 2016: “We ‘memed’ alt-right into existence, and it’s now almost a household name.”