The Memeification of War and Politics

BY: CARESSE LIANG / CO-NEWS EDITOR

Two images depicting two scenarios in relevant situations in current world events. (FIRST IMAGE: @/coolguyonline00 on TIKTOK,  SECOND IMAGE: @/YBGdonnfunny495 ON TIKTOK.)

Are memes integrated into politics, and are they used as a device for politics? The simple answer is: yes. 

Memes have been around for decades as a means of communication. A simple edited image of a particularly famous character can garner thousands of views and likes, and it can remain the topic of discussion for several weeks—even years. 

As people, we see these short, tangible ways to escape and have a quick laugh away from reality. Funny enough, we use them as a way to convey troubled emotions in a lighthearted manner, where it downplays the severity of a presented situation. 

Among the ever-growing wave of culture comes along the train of American politicians who use memes as a gateway to speak with their audience. In recent years, their usage of them has grown exponentially, to the point where official government pages use them as a form of propaganda. 

Depending on the target audience and the context, memes can function as tools to incite public opinion and persuade audiences. With a simple click of a button, memes are easily accessible, as they can be manipulated and created in a matter of seconds. 

Take the current White House social media pages as an example of what historians call “Wartime Propaganda,” biased information designed to influence attitudes and boost civilian morale. A more recent example would be the reactions to the war in Iran from both the U.S. and Israel. 

They have been editing clips into classic Hollywood formatting, all of which showcase the violence that has been inflicted across the U.S. and Iran. A specific video made for the Department of Homeland Security depicts ICE agents in military gear flying over Chicago, in an attempt to usher people to join ICE. 

“What we’re seeing is not just a war of weapons, but it’s also a war of aesthetics,” said Nancy Snow, a professor and author who studies propaganda. “Whoever controls the meme controls the mood.”

Another video was shared by the White House on Youtube, where it shows military airships and soldiers using artillery on targeted Iranian sites labelled “UNCLASSIFIED.” In these videos, it doesn’t show where and what Trump is aiming at, but it is definite that it is the U.S. military against Iran through added clips. 

A screenshot from a video from the White House. It combined clips of the video game, Grand Theft Auto, with military strike footage. (PHOTO CREDIT: THE INDEPENDENT.)

“The legacy media wants us to apologize for highlighting the United States Military’s incredible success, but the White House will continue showcasing the many examples of Iran’s ballistic missiles, production facilities, and dreams of owning a nuclear weapon being destroyed in real time,” said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly.

The ability to use augmented images and videos as a way to boost civilian morale instead of addressing the numerous murders at the hands of American artillery weapons should be condemned. The amount of violence and suffering that has been dismissed by the Trump Administration does not make Americans feel proud; it makes them feel ashamed and embarrassed.

It also diminishes the value of American veterans who have fought in previous wars, and those that have been lost in scenarios like these. 

“I can’t imagine how it feels for those family members of people who signed up to serve the country and did so proudly… to then see the White House making videos like, ‘Look at all these cool explosions,’” said U.S. veteran Connor Crehan. 

An AI-generated image of President Donald Trump as a Star Wars Jedi. (PHOTO CREDIT: THE GUARDIAN.)

The memeification of war and politics does not make Americans want to fight for their country. It’s definitive that the decision to showcase violence as patriotic is counterproductive; it makes people realize how terrible our government truly is.

At the same time, it inspires others to make videos to push the narrative. On platforms like TikTok, users can make their own videos that present military life as something to “die for.” They can also make videos that go against the narrative, like condemning the decision to put ICE at airports instead of lifting the government shutdown. 

The U.S. government seems to be overzealous in putting out content like this, but they barely address the issues that Americans deal with on a daily basis. Should it be the time to post a video, or stand up and be a professional?