The Mainstream History Of The Internet’s Favorite Anti-Semitic Image

February 8, 2015 8:54 AM

OK, so what? What does it mean that “Jew-bwa-ha-ha.gif” likely isn’t the work of a raving Nazi or some corn-fed Aryan brother, but the doodling of a disaffected provocateur hopelessly misguided by a very specific cultural moment? On one hand, not much. Who cares where these images come from? They still do their damage. On the other hand, it’s worth wondering whether Bougas’ cultural moment is over at all. The idea that ironized racism and sexism and anti-Semitism are the bravest subversions of American culture still lives, not in zines or even Vice, anymore, but in subreddits, and chans, and red pill message boards. That’s why it is so fitting that Bougas’ work has found its best reception in these places. That’s why it is so fitting that these places so aggressively sont Charlie. (SLBF)
posted by josher71 (4 comments total)

I'm surprised to hear that image is from the late 80s/early 90s. I'd seen it in awful places online over the last 15-20 years and assumed its origin was likely WWII and actual nazi propaganda from back then, akin to caricatures of African-Americans that go back hundreds of years.

I wonder what Patton Oswalt will say about that last image. It's pretty weird after reading the whole story.
posted by mathowie at 9:22 AM on February 8, 2015 [2 favorites]

I must hang out in the right places on the internet, I don't think I've ever seen that before.
posted by Apoch at 9:23 AM on February 8, 2015

What does it mean to "sont Charlie"?
posted by dilaudid at 9:24 AM on February 8, 2015

That was a great article, right up until the last paragraph, which seemed to be all about settling some real or imagined score with Patton Oswalt by pointing out that he's liked by some pretty awful people (among a lot of other not-so-awful people).
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:25 AM on February 8, 2015 [1 favorite]