Demonization: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Demonization.jpg|frame|'I am the Pope.']]
[[File:Demonization.jpg|frame|'I am the Pope.']]


{{quote|''"That's the problem with being the devil, [[Hypocritical Humor|everybody demonizes you]]."''|'''[[Satan]]''', ''[[Old Harry's Game (Radio)|Old Harry's Game]]''}}
{{quote|''"That's the problem with being the devil, [[Hypocritical Humor|everybody demonizes you]]."''|'''[[Satan]]''', ''[[Old Harry's Game]]''}}


All The Tropes [[Truth in Television|is the devil]]. It teaches our children [[Fetish Fuel|it's okay to be aroused by filth]]. It wants to make [[Tropes Will Ruin Your Life|everyone in the world fat and lazy]], [[All The Tropes Will Ruin Your Vocabulary|pollutes the English language even more than Internet speak]] and unlike those [[The Aggressive Drug Dealer|evil drug dealers]], they will actually admit they want to ruin your life!<ref>No wait, [[All The Tropes Ruined Your Life (Darth Wiki)|they already did!]]</ref> Self-identity is discouraged among the members of this cult, to the point where personal pronouns and references to oneself are [[Natter|actively]] discouraged. [[We All Live in America|It's]] [[Eagle Land|anti-American]].
All The Tropes [[Truth in Television|is the devil]]. It teaches our children [[Fetish Fuel|it's okay to be aroused by filth]]. It wants to make [[Tropes Will Ruin Your Life|everyone in the world fat and lazy]], [[All the Tropes Will Ruin Your Vocabulary|pollutes the English language even more than Internet speak]] and unlike those [[The Aggressive Drug Dealer|evil drug dealers]], they will actually admit they want to ruin your life!<ref>No wait, [[All the Tropes Ruined Your Life (Darth Wiki)|they already did!]]</ref> Self-identity is discouraged among the members of this cult, to the point where personal pronouns and references to oneself are [[Natter|actively]] discouraged. [[We All Live in America|It's]] [[Eagle Land|anti-American]].


Of course none of that is true, or completely true, but that's how [[Demonization]] works. It's about twisting facts, or making them up, to make something look worse. Sometimes it can actually go as far claiming something is satanic, but usually it's more down to earth. Either way, these claims are made either without proof, or counter to actual evidence.
Of course none of that is true, or completely true, but that's how [[Demonization]] works. It's about twisting facts, or making them up, to make something look worse. Sometimes it can actually go as far claiming something is satanic, but usually it's more down to earth. Either way, these claims are made either without proof, or counter to actual evidence.
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* ''[[Paradise Lost]]'' does this the most literal way possible, identifying the gods from the other religions of the ancient Levant as higher ranked of Satan.
* ''[[Paradise Lost]]'' does this the most literal way possible, identifying the gods from the other religions of the ancient Levant as higher ranked of Satan.
* ''[[In Death]]'': Defense attorneys tend be subjected to this. Then again, the story is told from the perspective of a cop who arrests criminals and then has to testify against them, so....
* ''[[In Death]]'': Defense attorneys tend be subjected to this. Then again, the story is told from the perspective of a cop who arrests criminals and then has to testify against them, so....
* ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Monstrous Regiment|Monstrous Regiment]]'': Protagonist Polly's country, Borogravia, dubs the leader of the Ankh-Morpork forces "Vimes The Butcher". When she meets Vimes, he tells her that Borogravian propaganda is [[Insult Backfire|laughably amateurish]].
* ''[[Discworld/Monstrous Regiment|Monstrous Regiment]]'': Protagonist Polly's country, Borogravia, dubs the leader of the Ankh-Morpork forces "Vimes The Butcher". When she meets Vimes, he tells her that Borogravian propaganda is [[Insult Backfire|laughably amateurish]].
* There are various webpages on the Internet (such as [http://www.shoshone.k12.id.us/nutcracker/story.html this one]) hosting a piece which claims that ''[[The Nutcracker (Literature)|The Nutcracker]]'' was originally a dark and gruesome tale completely unfit for children. While it ''was'' dark and gruesome by some peoples' standards, many of the "facts" listed to support the claim - such as that Marie's family doesn't love her, that Marie is depicted as laying in a pool of her own blood after injuring herself, and that her parents lock her into her room to punish her - are completely untrue.
* There are various webpages on the Internet (such as [http://www.shoshone.k12.id.us/nutcracker/story.html this one]) hosting a piece which claims that ''[[The Nutcracker (novel)|The Nutcracker]]'' was originally a dark and gruesome tale completely unfit for children. While it ''was'' dark and gruesome by some peoples' standards, many of the "facts" listed to support the claim - such as that Marie's family doesn't love her, that Marie is depicted as laying in a pool of her own blood after injuring herself, and that her parents lock her into her room to punish her - are completely untrue.




== [[Live Action TV]] ==
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* An episode of ''[[Forever Knight (TV)|Forever Knight]]'' had a flashback in which Hitler was portrayed as a man so full of evil that it made him [[Even Evil Has Standards|too evil to turn into a vampire]].
* An episode of ''[[Forever Knight]]'' had a flashback in which Hitler was portrayed as a man so full of evil that it made him [[Even Evil Has Standards|too evil to turn into a vampire]].




== Music ==
== Music ==
* "Phantoms Of Death" by [[Helloween (Music)|Helloween]].
* "Phantoms Of Death" by [[Helloween]].




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** And Lord Karamazov gives us this memorable line:
** And Lord Karamazov gives us this memorable line:
{{quote| A plea of innocence in my court is guilty of wasting my time! Guilty!}}
{{quote| A plea of innocence in my court is guilty of wasting my time! Guilty!}}
* ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' was subjected to this in the 80's and early 90's from Christian groups (most notably [[Jack Chick]] and Patricia Pulling, the founder of [[Fun With Acronyms|Bothered About Dungeons & Dragons]]) believing the game encouraged witchcraft, satanism, suicide, and all sorts of other horrible things. It got to the point where TSR (the game's publisher at the time) removed demons, devils, and other monsters from the line (mostly by renaming them into tanar'ri and baatezu), stopped to call shamans "wicca" and funding studies to counter the claims.
* ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' was subjected to this in the 80's and early 90's from Christian groups (most notably [[Jack Chick]] and Patricia Pulling, the founder of [[Fun with Acronyms|Bothered About Dungeons & Dragons]]) believing the game encouraged witchcraft, satanism, suicide, and all sorts of other horrible things. It got to the point where TSR (the game's publisher at the time) removed demons, devils, and other monsters from the line (mostly by renaming them into tanar'ri and baatezu), stopped to call shamans "wicca" and funding studies to counter the claims.




== [[Video Games]] ==
== [[Video Games]] ==
* In ''[[Psychonauts (Video Game)|Psychonauts]]'' {{spoiler|Raz's dad, Augustus Aquato}} is said to hate psychics, among other things, his image in {{spoiler|Oleander and Raz's head, merged together}}, shows this quite a bit. {{spoiler|"Man do I hate Psychics, and seeing my son happy!"}} The real version is, of course, ''nothing'' like that; in fact, he is horrified when he sees the mental image. {{spoiler|"Rasputin, is that really how you think of me? [[Comically Missing the Point|Come on! I have WAY more hair than that!]]"}}
* In ''[[Psychonauts]]'' {{spoiler|Raz's dad, Augustus Aquato}} is said to hate psychics, among other things, his image in {{spoiler|Oleander and Raz's head, merged together}}, shows this quite a bit. {{spoiler|"Man do I hate Psychics, and seeing my son happy!"}} The real version is, of course, ''nothing'' like that; in fact, he is horrified when he sees the mental image. {{spoiler|"Rasputin, is that really how you think of me? [[Comically Missing the Point|Come on! I have WAY more hair than that!]]"}}
* A well-popularized example: Back in the late nineties, there was some backlash against ''[[Pokémon]]'' by varying [[Moral Guardians|fundamentalist groups]], who claimed that the games (and related series) promoted violence and occult imagery. Notably, the ''Vatican'' publicly defended ''Pokémon'' from these detractors. More specifically, the Vatican defended ''Pokémon'' on the issue of evolution, of all things.
* A well-popularized example: Back in the late nineties, there was some backlash against ''[[Pokémon]]'' by varying [[Moral Guardians|fundamentalist groups]], who claimed that the games (and related series) promoted violence and occult imagery. Notably, the ''Vatican'' publicly defended ''Pokémon'' from these detractors. More specifically, the Vatican defended ''Pokémon'' on the issue of evolution, of all things.
** ''Pokémon'', among tons of other "new media", are still treated this way by many fundamentalists.
** ''Pokémon'', among tons of other "new media", are still treated this way by many fundamentalists.
* Done in-game to [[Ratchet and Clank]] in ''[[Ratchet Deadlocked]]'', although the audience isn't falling for it. This demonization reaches [[Implausible Deniability]] when kids clearly cheering for Ratchet are dubbed over on the show.
* Done in-game to [[Ratchet and Clank]] in ''[[Ratchet: Deadlocked]]'', although the audience isn't falling for it. This demonization reaches [[Implausible Deniability]] when kids clearly cheering for Ratchet are dubbed over on the show.




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* [[Exaggerated Trope|Exaggerated]] in the ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' episode "Sideshow Bob Roberts", which depicts the Springfield Republican Party as zealots who hold meetings (prefaced by a round of [[Ominous Latin Chanting]]) in an ominous castle straight out of a [[Hammer Horror]] film, and who at one point confuse a water cooler with their mayoral candidate.
* [[Exaggerated Trope|Exaggerated]] in the ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' episode "Sideshow Bob Roberts", which depicts the Springfield Republican Party as zealots who hold meetings (prefaced by a round of [[Ominous Latin Chanting]]) in an ominous castle straight out of a [[Hammer Horror]] film, and who at one point confuse a water cooler with their mayoral candidate.
* ''[[The Smurfs]]'' have been accused of representing the seven deadly sins with Papa Smurf as the devil and Gargamel as a good priest.
* ''[[The Smurfs]]'' have been accused of representing the seven deadly sins with Papa Smurf as the devil and Gargamel as a good priest.
* Deconstructed [[In Universe]] in ''[[My Life As a Teenage Robot (Animation)|My Life As a Teenage Robot]]'': Evil Queen Vexus of Cluster Prime has lied to her own robot people about Earth's defender, [[Robot Girl]] XJ9, presenting her like an [[Always Chaotic Evil]], [[Beauty Equals Goodness|horrible monster]] robot that wants to destroy her own kind in various propaganda videos. When XJ9 accidentally goes to Cluster Prime, all the robots see her for the cute, normal, [[The Hero|heroic robot who wants to help and protect others]] that she is. This is Queen Vexus' downfall.
* Deconstructed [[In-Universe]] in ''[[My Life as a Teenage Robot]]'': Evil Queen Vexus of Cluster Prime has lied to her own robot people about Earth's defender, [[Robot Girl]] XJ9, presenting her like an [[Always Chaotic Evil]], [[Beauty Equals Goodness|horrible monster]] robot that wants to destroy her own kind in various propaganda videos. When XJ9 accidentally goes to Cluster Prime, all the robots see her for the cute, normal, [[The Hero|heroic robot who wants to help and protect others]] that she is. This is Queen Vexus' downfall.
* The ''[[Codename Kids Next Door]]'' episode "Operation: B.U.L.L.I.E.S." depicts bullies as giant dinosaur-like creatures with names like Spitballosaurus and Wedgiesaurus Rex.
* The ''[[Codename: Kids Next Door]]'' episode "Operation: B.U.L.L.I.E.S." depicts bullies as giant dinosaur-like creatures with names like Spitballosaurus and Wedgiesaurus Rex.
* Megatron in ''[[Transformers Prime]]'' does this for {{spoiler|an amnesic Optimus/Orion}}, saying that Ratchet was the [[Big Bad]] and that the reason the Autobots call them "Decepticons" was as a form of Autobot propaganda.
* Megatron in ''[[Transformers Prime]]'' does this for {{spoiler|an amnesic Optimus/Orion}}, saying that Ratchet was the [[Big Bad]] and that the reason the Autobots call them "Decepticons" was as a form of Autobot propaganda.


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** A good example of this is can be found on [[Rational Wiki]]. 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]].
** A good example of this is can be found on [[Rational Wiki]]. 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]].
* Some portrayals of [[Adolf Hitler]] forget that he was still a ''man,'' not some kind of ultimate incarnation of evil.
* Some portrayals of [[Adolf Hitler]] forget that he was still a ''man,'' not some kind of ultimate incarnation of evil.
** In fact, Bruno Ganz got a lot of negative press for "humanizing" Hitler with his portrayal in ''[[Downfall (Film)|Downfall]]'' (this wouldn't of course count those that made the "Hitler Reacts" videos).
** In fact, Bruno Ganz got a lot of negative press for "humanizing" Hitler with his portrayal in ''[[Downfall (film)|Downfall]]'' (this wouldn't of course count those that made the "Hitler Reacts" videos).
* Examples of this can be found on all sides of religious debates. Many groups are simultaneously victims and perpetrators.
* Examples of this can be found on all sides of religious debates. Many groups are simultaneously victims and perpetrators.
* [[New Media Are Evil]]: Various new forms of media get subjected to this by people who hate it, and the demonization never truly ends.
* [[New Media Are Evil]]: Various new forms of media get subjected to this by people who hate it, and the demonization never truly ends.
** Television is often faced with this, which has led to a number of tropes (such as [[Bowdlerise]]) in an attempt to dodge demonization.
** Television is often faced with this, which has led to a number of tropes (such as [[Bowdlerise]]) in an attempt to dodge demonization.
** [[Video Games]]. After any school shooting or random act of violence, it's not uncommon to hear the "and he played violent video games" line broken out.
** [[Video Games]]. After any school shooting or random act of violence, it's not uncommon to hear the "and he played violent video games" line broken out.
* [[Heavy Metal (Music)|Heavy Metal]]. Satanic and anti-religion lyrical themes weren't particularly prominent in the genre until they started popping up as a backlash against the [[Moral Guardians]]' constant claims that the music was demonic. There were earlier bands that sang about Satan (ie [[Black Sabbath (Music)|Black Sabbath]]), but it tended to be in a foreboding, "watch out or he'll get you" way.
* [[Heavy Metal]]. Satanic and anti-religion lyrical themes weren't particularly prominent in the genre until they started popping up as a backlash against the [[Moral Guardians]]' constant claims that the music was demonic. There were earlier bands that sang about Satan (ie [[Black Sabbath]]), but it tended to be in a foreboding, "watch out or he'll get you" way.
* Scientology is famous for its hatred of psychiatry. Many people on the Internet are also extremely negative toward Scientology, to the point that many people paint the group as a blatant [[Cult of Happyology]] one step above sacrificing people to [[L Ron Hubbard]], who gets plenty of this himself.
* Scientology is famous for its hatred of psychiatry. Many people on the Internet are also extremely negative toward Scientology, to the point that many people paint the group as a blatant [[Cult of Happyology]] one step above sacrificing people to [[L. Ron Hubbard]], who gets plenty of this himself.
* Many of the louder and more extreme animal rights groups tend to demonize anyone who eats meat. Annoyed omnivores often react by demonizing all animal rights groups, vegetarians, etc.
* Many of the louder and more extreme animal rights groups tend to demonize anyone who eats meat. Annoyed omnivores often react by demonizing all animal rights groups, vegetarians, etc.
* Anti smoking/drinking/drug groups tend to use these tactics.
* Anti smoking/drinking/drug groups tend to use these tactics.
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* [[Snopes]].com has a collection of repeatedly plagiarized scares. Many are pearls of [[Black Comedy]] and/or [[Hypocritical Humor]], including insults to the public's mental abilities as big as [http://www.snopes.com/military/stamp.asp the story about a PoW] who wrote a letter with secret note on the backside its postage stamp, ''after his captors cut off his hands.''
* [[Snopes]].com has a collection of repeatedly plagiarized scares. Many are pearls of [[Black Comedy]] and/or [[Hypocritical Humor]], including insults to the public's mental abilities as big as [http://www.snopes.com/military/stamp.asp the story about a PoW] who wrote a letter with secret note on the backside its postage stamp, ''after his captors cut off his hands.''
* Interestingly, averted in German [[World War One]] propaganda in favor of ridicule. Germany's opponents were depicted in caricatures like "the Russians are totally uncultured, the French are [[Anything That Moves|only thinking about one thing]], the Brits are greedy, and generally all of them are incompetent cowards, lead by [[Manipulative Bastard|Manipulative Bastards]]". Lead to [[Fridge Logic]] among German people, because if German soldiers are that great, and everyone else ''isn't'', why didn't they win the war in six weeks like the politicians said they would?!
* Interestingly, averted in German [[World War One]] propaganda in favor of ridicule. Germany's opponents were depicted in caricatures like "the Russians are totally uncultured, the French are [[Anything That Moves|only thinking about one thing]], the Brits are greedy, and generally all of them are incompetent cowards, lead by [[Manipulative Bastard|Manipulative Bastards]]". Lead to [[Fridge Logic]] among German people, because if German soldiers are that great, and everyone else ''isn't'', why didn't they win the war in six weeks like the politicians said they would?!
* 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].
* 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.}}
* [[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.}}
* The standard response of ''any'' conspiracy theorist to ''anyone'' that publically disagrees with them or refutes their arguments: Expand the conspiracy to make the critic the newest player.
* The standard response of ''any'' conspiracy theorist to ''anyone'' that publically disagrees with them or refutes their arguments: Expand the conspiracy to make the critic the newest player.
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Demonization"