Despicable me: Bolsonarist WhatsApp memes and political events in Brazil

Abstract

This article investigates humor in internet memes that circulated in WhatsApp groups of Bolsonaro supporters during six months of his government. Content analysis aims to understand what are the nationalist rhetorical elements present in memes shared by the Brazilian far-right, notably those that make direct mention to Bolsonaro, what anti-democratic expressions these memes mobilize and how their circulation somehow reflects recent events in the country’s political life. We conclude that the images circulated in these groups help pave the way for a far-right visual humor, with a strongly ideological and radicalized content.

Keywords:
Digital Democracy; Image and Politics; Humor and Politics; Internet Memes; Jair Bolsonaro; WhatsApp