Demonization: Difference between revisions

 

{{examples}}

== Anime and Manga ==

* Hitler gets a cameo in the ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' movie. He never speaks {{spoiler|well, almost}}, but the camera constantly pans to his eyes, which have a mad, manic glare that gives the impression that he's constantly about to snap and kill everybody around him. There is a slight chance of double standard here, given what the primary ''Fullmetal Alchemist'' universe is like.

== [[Real Life]] ==

* Political and war propaganda is usually loaded with this. From all sides and towards all sides.

* [[Scare Campaign]]s tend to be made of this trope.

*** However, the Soviets did put a significant amount of disinformation efforts into making us ''believe'' that the first two were true, because intimidation is a valid diplomatic strategy (and so is bluffing). As for the third, the "Communist Rules For Revolution" are an only moderate reinterpretation of Antonio Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony and associated political strategies for coming to infiltrate and dominate social institutions, and he was the founder of the Italian Communist Party.

*** There were also a certain number of governments involved in the Cold War that at least ''attempted'' some kind of psychological warfare operations to disorient, manipulate, or sabotage an enemy nation's population and cultural institutions. That number is "all of them".

* [[Ayn Rand]] often gets portrayed very negatively. Often her form of [[Objectivism]] gets lumped in with many extreme right political philosophies or portrayed as a license to be a complete [[Jerkass]]. That some some notable Objectivists have apparently taken it to be such doesn't help. [[Ayn Rand]] herself liked to portray ''her'' political adversaries as completely morally bankrupt with no redeeming qualities what-so-ever.

** A good example of this is can be found on [[RationalWiki]]. The portrayal of Objectivists as insane, immoral cult members who worship cigarettes like they worship their atheist god seems like a parody written by a very unimaginative Objectivist wanting to smear his opponents by portraying them as simple minded children lacking any real arguments, and the pages are guarded with a passion and reverted back to their current versions very quickly if anyone tries to make them more... [[Irony|Rational.]] Who knew that that website coined the term [[Poe's Law]].

** On ''that'' note, even the term "demon" was demonized, thanks to early Christianity and Judaism. [[wikipedia:Daimon|The original Greek]] ''[[wikipedia:Daimon|daimon]]'' sometimes (maybe even most of the time) referred to a ''[[wikipedia:Demon#Terminology|good]]'' spirit.

** As a matter of fact, [[Jerkass Gods|the entire Greek Patheon]] is demonized today, thanks to [[Values Dissonance]] and [[Flanderization]].

* Some public figures who are perceived as sinister have this happen to them in a literal sense, with satirists joking about them smelling of sulfur or accusing them of being vampires.

* [[Canadian Politics|Ontario Premier]] Dalton McGuinty is an [[wikipedia:Evil reptilian kitten-eater from another planet|evil reptilian kitten-eater from another planet]]. Apparently.

* Ultimate proof that absolutely no one is safe from demonization, [[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood|Mr. Rogers]] is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29lmR_357rA being accused of ruining a generation].

* [[wikipedia:Dihydrogen monoxide hoax|Dihydrogen]] [http://www.snopes.com/science/dhmo.asp monoxide] is a colorless, odorless, tasteless chemical that kills thousands of people every year. Accidental inhalation and even skin contact (in both solid and liquid form) can be hazardous. The chemical has been found everywhere—in the atmosphere, in acid rain, and in almost every body of water in the world. It has even been found in the Antarctic ice. {{spoiler|1=The good news is that, even though all these facts are true, dihydrogen monoxide is just water. Dihydrogen=2 hydrogen atoms, and monoxide=1 oxygen atom, so dihydrogen monoxide is H{{smallcaps|2}}O.}}

** This applies to many more extreme (well, basic and "normal ones too, but that's a different entry) political ideologies as well. Example: Try bringing up the mass murder committed under Marxist-Leninist Communist regimes, and the immediate response from a Marxist-Leninist is going to be having you branded an [[Eagle Land|Eaglelander]] (regardless of whether you live there), a member of he bourgeoisie (regardless of your actual socio-economic background), an imperialist, a capitalist, and a fascist. All rolled into one. The same sort of thing happens if you try to argue with a Neo-Nazi about... well, ''anything''. Disagree with them, and you're simply blinded by the zionist conspiracy that currently holds power over the earth, and that you probably support the enslavement and eradication of the white race.

* This happens even on [[This Very Wiki]], mainly to trolls, Encyclopedia Dramatica, and 4chan. People who are trolls or support/use those sites usually have "[[Complete Monster]]" thrown at them, and the sites themselves are deemed [[Wretched Hive]]s that should be banned from the internet.