Frog-faced Fascism: How Memes Mask Odious Ideology

Hate symbol or harmless frog?

Pepe the Frog has been officially designated a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League, to howls of derision by various corners of the online world. The ADL’s justification for viewing Pepe as a hate symbol rests upon the meme’s (fairly recent) association with the Alt-Right.

Although the Alt-Right’s influence on American politics is often vastly overstated, and “normie” Twitter often misidentifies apolitical trolls from the dark recesses of the internet as sincere, committed racists, there’s more to this movement than bored shock-jocks. Using the surreal aesthetic of memes and chan culture, genuine fascists, white nationalists, and adherents to related ideologies are rehabilitating and re-branding ideas that belong in the dustbin of history.

Despite attempts to uncritically co-opt elements of the Alt-Right into the “cultural libertarian” label, myself and others believe that this is a flawed enterprise. The simple fact of the matter is that the Alt-Right loves authoritarianism, both economically and socially. Whilst many posters on 8chan’s /pol/ discussion board (a hub of Alt-Right discussion and activity) are simply in it “for the lulz,” a significant number genuinely endorse variants of fascism. They aren’t stupid either; if you break past the initial wall of mockery and edgelord posturing, plenty on the Alt-Right have detailed justifications for their worldview.

At a recent writing workshop, I asked how conservatives and libertarians should respond (if at all) to these seemingly innocuous hordes of Pepe and anime avatars espousing nationalism and economic intervention in the name of restoring tradition. The overriding theme of the discussion was engagement and criticism. It’s time we started taking the Alt-Right more seriously as opponents of a free society, even if our natural reaction is to dismiss them. Being versed in chan culture helps, but isn’t essential. The key is to steer the conversation towards the concrete political ideas that lie behind the Alt-Right’s cultural appeal. The way to fight the Alt-Right’s aestheticization of politics is to politicize the Alt-Right’s aesthetic.

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