Anti-Fandom and Fascism are the Same Thing

Actual Fandom

12 Nov 202111:26

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the historical impact of fear-mongering on American society, highlighting the anti-comic book crusade of the 1950s and the Red Scare's influence on contemporary politics and culture. It connects these historical events to modern anti-fandom movements, which it argues are driven by regressive ideologies and contribute to the spread of misinformation, ultimately urging viewers to be aware and active in opposing such narratives.

Takeaways

📚 The 1950s saw a rise in conservative fear-mongering leading to a destructive socio-political phenomenon.
🚫 Dr. Frederick Wertham's crusade against comic books in 1948 and the publication of 'Seduction of the Innocent' in 1954 sparked a moral panic.
📈 In response to Wertham's claims, the US Senate held hearings on the harmful effects of comic books, contributing to juvenile delinquency concerns.
🚷 The comic book industry self-censored, creating a code that restricted content, including authority figures' portrayal and the use of certain words like 'horror' or 'terror'.
🏳️‍🌈 Sexuality, drug use, seduction, and homosexuality were effectively censored, with only traditional marriage and family values being promoted in comics.
📉 Over time, these restrictive values faded, and the comic book code was eventually eliminated in 2011, seen as a relic of an era of misinformation and fear-mongering.
🔍 The Red Scare and Joseph McCarthy's anti-communist probes created a climate of fear and suspicion in the US during the post-WWII era.
🤥 The John Birch Society, linked to Donald Trump, continues to propagate baseless conspiracy theories and fear-mongering.
🌐 Modern neo-fascist conservatives and anti-fandoms use fear and misinformation to push regressive ideologies, often under the guise of pro-free speech or anti-political messaging.
💭 The goal of anti-fandom networks is to attract new and casual fans with misinformation, potentially leading them down a path to adopting regressive ideologies.
🛑 There is no neutral position in the culture war; apathy and complacency are seen as indirect support for anti-fandom and fascism.

Q & A

What was Frederick Wertham's role in the 1950s comic book censorship?
-Frederick Wertham was a psychologist who began a crusade against comic books in 1948, claiming they had harmful effects on young readers. His criticisms led to the infamous 1954 publication 'Seduction of the Innocent' and subsequent U.S. Senate hearings on comic books, which resulted in the comic book industry adopting a strict self-censorship code.
What were some of the specific restrictions imposed by the comic book industry's self-censorship code?
-The comic book self-censorship code, implemented in response to Wertham's campaign and Senate hearings, included prohibitions on disrespecting authority figures like police and judges, using words like 'horror' or 'terror', and banning depictions of sexuality outside of traditional marriage, as well as any representation of drug use or homosexuality.
How did the 'Red Scare' in the post-World War II era affect American society?
-During the 'Red Scare', American leaders promoted intense fear of communist infiltration in various aspects of life, including education and media. Senator Joseph McCarthy notably led high-profile probes into alleged communist influences, creating a widespread climate of fear and suspicion across the United States.
What role did the John Birch Society play in American politics and how is it connected to modern events?
-The John Birch Society, a far-right political advocacy group, has historically promoted conspiracy theories about communist influences in America. The society's influence persists, often cited in connection with modern political figures and movements that leverage similar fear-mongering tactics about socialism and social progress.
How did anti-fandom movements like ComicsGate and the Phantom Menace use popular culture for their agendas?
-Movements like ComicsGate and the Phantom Menace have criticized changes in popular media, claiming that inclusion and progressive themes, dubbed as 'wokism', are destroying traditional fandoms. They often use these platforms to propagate broader conservative ideologies, mirroring historical fear-mongering tactics.
What impact did the comic book code have on the portrayal of romance and sexuality in comic books?
-The comic book code severely restricted the portrayal of romance and sexuality. It mandated that any depiction of passion or romantic interest must align with traditional marriage and family values, effectively banning portrayals of unmarried couples showing affection or any non-heteronormative relationships.
In what ways did McCarthyism create a climate of fear and suspicion in the U.S.?
-McCarthyism, led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, was characterized by aggressive investigations and accusations against individuals in government, Hollywood, and other sectors for being communist sympathizers. This created a pervasive climate of fear, where many were afraid to oppose McCarthy or could be blacklisted, often based on unsubstantiated accusations.
What are some modern equivalents of the comic book censorship and Red Scare as mentioned in the script?
-Modern equivalents include movements like anti-SJW and anti-woke groups in fandoms that claim to be fighting against political correctness and inclusion, similar to how comic book censorship sought to regulate content and the Red Scare promoted fear of communism. These contemporary movements often use social media to amplify their messages.
What does the term 'culture war' imply in the context of the script?
-In the script, 'culture war' refers to the ongoing conflicts within society over cultural values and norms, particularly around issues of race, sexuality, and gender. These are often framed by conservative movements as battles against progressive changes, using terminology that suggests a significant and disruptive conflict.
How does the phenomenon of anti-fandom contribute to political polarization, according to the script?
-Anti-fandoms contribute to political polarization by using cultural touchpoints like comics or movies to enforce conservative ideologies and resist progressive themes. They create divisive narratives that align with broader political conflicts, influencing fans and the public's perception of cultural and political issues.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Historical Context of Fear-mongering and Censorship

This paragraph discusses the socio-political climate of the early 1950s, highlighting the role of conservative fear-mongering in launching destructive phenomena. It delves into the infamous work of psychologist Frederick Wertham, who initiated a baseless crusade against comic books, leading to the publication of 'Seduction of the Innocent' in 1954. This event triggered Senate hearings on the harmful effects of comic books and subsequently, the comic book industry's implementation of a self-censorship code. The code's vague restrictions effectively censored various aspects of comic content, including authority figures' portrayal, use of certain words, and depiction of sexuality or seduction. The paragraph also touches on the broader political context of the Red Scare, led by figures like Senator Joseph McCarthy, and the lasting impact of these events on American society, culture, and politics.

05:01

🎭 The Misguided Fears in Modern Fandom and Politics

The second paragraph examines the continuation of fear-mongering and misinformation in modern times, particularly within conservative circles and nerd culture. It criticizes popular conservative figures and YouTubers who propagate the idea that 'social justice warriors' (SJWs) and 'wokeism' are destroying fandoms, using comics, Star Wars, and other media as tools to incite panic among uninformed audiences. The paragraph highlights the ignorance of these influencers regarding the historical social messaging in comics and their apolitical stance as a cover for regressive ideologies. It also discusses the Gamergate controversy and the transition of these views into other movements like Comics Gate and the Phantom Menace, emphasizing the superficial arguments as a facade for deeper prejudices and the rise of victim tallies as these groups become more comfortable with their true views.

10:02

🚫 The Anti-Fandom Movement and Its Regressive Impact

This paragraph focuses on the anti-fandom movement, describing it as an extension of modern fascism that permeates various cultural aspects, including fandoms. It criticizes the movement's lack of substantial policies or solutions, its contradictory nature, and its fuel from a juvenile desire to provoke and dominate the left. The paragraph also addresses the anti-fandom's narrative of a culture war against inclusion and acceptance, labeling it as a regressive anti-progress belief. It warns against the siphoning of new and casual fans into these regressive ideologies through the dominance of anti-fandom content in online algorithms and the production of low-information content. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the importance of making a choice against anti-fandom and fascism, as neutrality or apathy inadvertently supports these harmful movements.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Fear-mongering

Fear-mongering refers to the use of fear as a tool to influence people's emotions, attitudes, or behaviors. In the video, it is described as a driving force behind the destructive socio-political phenomenon of the 1950s, where conservative fear-mongering led to the unjust targeting of mediums like comic books and the creation of a climate of fear and suspicion.

💡Sedition of the Innocent

Sedition of the Innocent is a book published by Frederic Wertham in 1954 that criticized the content of comic books, claiming they contributed to juvenile delinquency. The book played a significant role in the public hearings on the harmful effects of comic books and the subsequent implementation of a self-censorship code within the comic book industry.

💡Self-censorship

Self-censorship is the act of limiting or controlling one's own speech, writing, or other forms of expression to avoid controversy or disapproval. In the context of the video, the comic book industry implemented self-censorship in response to public criticism and government investigation, leading to restrictions on content and the suppression of various themes and ideas.

💡Red Scare

The Red Scare refers to the period of intense anti-communist sentiment, paranoia, and political repression in the United States during the Cold War, particularly in the 1950s. It is characterized by a widespread fear of communist infiltration and subversion within American society and institutions. In the video, the Red Scare is depicted as a time when fear-mongering and conspiracy theories about internal communist threats reached a peak.

💡John Birch Society

The John Birch Society is a far-right political advocacy group that has historically promoted conservative and libertarian ideas. The society has been linked to baseless conspiracy theories and has been accused of promoting fear and hostility towards social progress. In the video, it is described as having a continuing influence and being associated with recent resurgences of fear-mongering and anti-social progress sentiments.

💡Neo-fascism

Neo-fascism is a contemporary form of fascism that embraces the same authoritarian, nationalistic, and often racist ideologies as historical fascism but may manifest in different ways. In the video, it is suggested that certain conservative ideologies and movements, influenced by fear-mongering and conspiracy theories, have led many into the camp of neo-fascism without them realizing it.

💡Anti-fandom

Anti-fandom refers to a group of people who actively oppose or criticize a particular fandom or fanbase. In the video, anti-fandoms are described as networks that use fear-mongering and misinformation to siphon off new and casual fans, promoting a distorted view of reality and spreading regressive anti-progress beliefs.

💡Cultural War

Cultural War refers to the conflict between different cultural values and beliefs, often used to describe the struggle for dominance in societal norms, values, and politics. In the video, the term is used to highlight how certain groups perceive the push for more inclusion and acceptance as a threat, framing it as an artificially created conflict.

💡McCarthyism

McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence. It is named after Senator Joseph McCarthy, who was known for his forceful anti-communist investigations. In the video, McCarthyism is portrayed as a historical example of fear-mongering and conspiracy theories that created a climate of fear and suspicion.

💡Astroturf

Astroturf refers to an organized activity or campaign that is designed to give the false impression of being a spontaneous, grassroots movement. In the video, the term is used to describe how certain groups present themselves as representing the majority when they are actually a small, vocal minority.

💡Fascism

Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and of the economy. In the video, fascism is portrayed as a cancerous organism that has infiltrated various aspects of culture, including fandoms, and is perpetuated by individuals and groups that spread fear, hostility, and regressive beliefs.

Highlights

In the early 1950s, conservative fear-mongering initiated a destructive socio-political phenomenon.

The psychologist Frederick Wertham began a baseless crusade against comic books in 1948.

The publication of 'Seduction of the Innocent' in 1954 led to Senate hearings on the harmful effects of comic books.

The comic book industry responded with a self-censorship code, restricting content on authority figures, sexuality, and more.

The self-censorship code was in place for six decades before being eliminated in 2011.

The Red Scare, fueled by Senator Joseph McCarthy, created a climate of fear and suspicion across America.

The John Birch Society perpetuated conspiracy theories and influenced far-right politics, including during Trump's presidency.

Anti-fandoms and conservative influencers use fear-mongering to push a neo-fascist agenda under the guise of culture war.

These movements claim to be pro-free speech while actually promoting regressive and anti-progress beliefs.

Anti-fandoms target new and casual fans, potentially leading them down a path to fascism.

The anti-fandom phenomenon is an extension of modern fascism, affecting various cultural aspects including fandoms.

Conservatism and anti-fandoms are defined by what they are against, offering no real policies or solutions.

The transcript highlights the insidious nature of anti-fandom networks and their impact on impressionable individuals.

The struggle against anti-fandoms is portrayed as a battle for the soul of culture and society.

The narrative calls for a proactive stance against anti-fandom and fascism, stressing that neutrality is not an option.

The transcript ends with a rallying call to make a choice against anti-fandom and fascism, emphasizing the importance of standing up for values.