![]() ![]() However, just as Internet users adapted Pepe memes to communicate their emotions and political leanings, the alt-right embraced Pepe creating malevolent versions with anti-Semitic and racist subtexts so much so, that in 2016, the Anti-Defamation League placed Pepe the Frog on its list of hate symbols.Īddressing more specific extremist movements, one could argue that the loosely organised Boogaloo movement, a fringe movement adhering to broadly far-right, pro-gun, anti-government, and anti-police sentiments, gained momentum from jokes and humourous memes based off of the 1984 sequel film, Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo. Trump, and other “hard working men,” including provocative figures like Milo Yiannopoulos, and Alex Jones. The meme plays off the 2010 film The Expendables, showing Donald Trump Jr., Pepe, then Presidential candidate Donald J. posted The Deplorables meme on Instagram in response to controversial comments made by Hillary Clinton regarding Trump supporters. In 2016, Pepe also became politically charged when Donald Trump Jr. For instance, in 2014, Katy Perry posted a Feels Bad Man/Sad Frog on Twitter, using it to refer to jet lag. ![]() The most known example of an Internet meme and its shift from harmless to disturbing, is “Pepe the Frog.” Originally a comic character from “Boy’s Club,” Pepe later became an Internet meme sensation, with versions of Pepe the Frog including, Angry Pepe, Feels Bad Man/Sad Frog, Smug Frog, and Feels Good Man, along with other iterations of Pepe posted on platforms like 4chan, 8chan, Tumblr, Reddit, Imgur, Instagram, Twitter among others.Īt first, Pepe memes were harmless, being posted by users and celebrities to express various feelings and thoughts. ![]() Although this applies to memes in general, memes associated with extremist movements, oftentimes are embedded with underlying sinister narratives masked in humour. Zakem, McBride, and Hammerberg note that memes often use sarcasm, humour, and irony as a way of creating emotional resonance in audiences. Examples include images, gifs, stickers, and user discussions, with humourous material frequently being found in Internet memes across ideologies from far-right to jihadist. The use of humourous and sarcastic discourse is commonly seen in right-wing extremist content online, while also being found in jihadist content. Although humourous content can be taken at face-value, it can also be employed to impart messages beyond an initial meaning while conveying ideas significant to an ideology. Years of electronic ethnographic research reveals that the appeal of humourous content has not been ignored by terrorist and extremist movements online. Many of us have viewed, shared, and laughed at funny cat videos, along with memes like Lolcat and I Can Has Cheezburger?, while in 2014, we snickered and felt good about people raising money and posting videos of themselves being doused in ice water for the #ALSIceBucketChallenge. ![]() Humour is a staple of life found in in-person interactions and in virtual environments. ![]()
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