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What is the “lite” in “alt-lite?” The discourse of white vulnerability and dominance among YouTube’s reactionaries
Social Media + Society ( IF 4.636 ) Pub Date : 2021-08-11 , DOI: 10.1177/20563051211036385
Cindy Ma 1
Affiliation  

This article examines the discourse of “alt-lite” YouTube personalities in a North American context, with a focus on how whiteness is understood and represented. It argues that, despite their self-presentation as color-blind conservatives, these figures are firmly embedded within white supremacist ideology. A qualitative approach to content analysis is adopted to excavate the logics underlying these videos and to highlight the rhetorical tools at work. By framing themselves as the vulnerable targets of progressive movements, “alt-lite” personalities have helped to revive and legitimize a discourse of white victimhood. Their videos emphasize the historic dominance of “white culture” while bemoaning the current and future vulnerability of white people in a politically correct, social-justice-oriented world. Ultimately, the article argues that “alt-lite” figures are united by a set of mitigating rhetorical strategies, which are used to temper and obfuscate their reactionary views. These strategies include performatively aligning with one minority group to denigrate another; highlighting personal relationships with non-white people and knowledge of non-white cultures; embracing a color-blind worldview purportedly rooted in the civil rights movement; and maintaining ironic distance when espousing more overtly hateful racial stereotypes. The adoption of these strategies by right-wing micro-celebrities should not deter scholars and civil society groups from acknowledging when those same figures traffic in white supremacist rhetoric.



中文翻译:

“alt-lite”中的“lite”是什么?YouTube 反动派中白人脆弱性和支配地位的话语

本文研究了北美背景下“alt-lite”YouTube 人物的话语,重点是如何理解和代表白人。它认为,尽管他们自我介绍为色盲保守派,但这些人物牢牢地植根于白人至上主义意识形态中。采用定性的内容分析方法来挖掘这些视频背后的逻辑,并突出工作中的修辞工具。通过将自己定位为进步运动的脆弱目标,“另类”人物帮助复兴了白人受害者的话语并使之合法化。他们的视频强调了“白人文化”的历史主导地位,同时哀叹白人在政治正确、社会正义导向的世界中当前和未来的脆弱性。最终,文章认为,“alt-lite”人物通过一套缓和的修辞策略联合起来,这些策略被用来缓和和混淆他们的反动观点。这些策略包括在表演上与一个少数群体保持一致以诋毁另一个;强调与非白人的个人关系和非白人文化的知识;拥抱据称植根于民权运动的色盲世界观;在支持更公然仇恨的种族刻板印象时保持具有讽刺意味的距离。右翼微型名人采用这些策略不应该阻止学者和民间社会团体承认这些相同的人物何时传播白人至上主义言论。这些策略包括在表演上与一个少数群体保持一致以诋毁另一个;强调与非白人的个人关系和非白人文化的知识;拥抱据称植根于民权运动的色盲世界观;在支持更公然仇恨的种族刻板印象时保持具有讽刺意味的距离。右翼微型名人采用这些策略不应该阻止学者和民间社会团体承认这些相同的人物何时传播白人至上主义言论。这些策略包括在表演上与一个少数群体保持一致以诋毁另一个;强调与非白人的个人关系和非白人文化的知识;拥抱据称植根于民权运动的色盲世界观;在支持更公然仇恨的种族刻板印象时保持具有讽刺意味的距离。右翼微型名人采用这些策略不应该阻止学者和民间社会团体承认这些相同的人物何时传播白人至上主义言论。在支持更公然仇恨的种族刻板印象时保持具有讽刺意味的距离。右翼微型名人采用这些策略不应该阻止学者和民间社会团体承认这些相同的人物何时传播白人至上主义言论。在支持更公然仇恨的种族刻板印象时保持具有讽刺意味的距离。右翼微型名人采用这些策略不应该阻止学者和民间社会团体承认这些相同的人物何时传播白人至上主义言论。

更新日期:2021-08-11
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