Jojo Rabbit is not a ε movie
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by Troler
Free Software fundamentally misses the point. It fails on a practical, ideological, economic, and political level. Letβs examine precisely how (in a slightly different order for the purposes of presentation).
It is impossible to answer what a Nazi is. Not because there is not such a thing, there is, rather that it means so many things, the terms is basically useless. c:0 β© Reply
There is the historical definition, a clipping of Nationalsozialist (Germ. National Socialist). Which was a person who believed in the ideology of the Nazi Party, an authoritarian government, ethnic nationalism (including but not limited to Pan-Germanism), adequate territory (Lebensraum), and economic cooperation between the state and capital. This term is used only in the historical account. This is the proper use of the term. β© Reply
The enemies of the Nazi state β Communists β perceived a Nazi as any patriot or nationalist. If a man spoke fondly of his or her own cultural heritage, they were a Nazi. β© Reply
Americans too had different opinion about Nazism. Anyone allied to the Nazi Germany, which included Italy and Japan, were Nazis. But as the Word War II came to an end, the caricature of a Nazi did not wither away. Pop culture continued the tales about Nazis, as a lot of Jewish refugees rose in the ranks in the American society. It was not limited to inner circles, as American superheroes battled the browned-shirted scum. Even then, the term changed, morphed, mutated until it lost more and more of its original meaning. Being the case of flanderization nazis came to mean anyone who imposed their views on others; one who was unfairly oppressive or needlessly strict. But that was the 60s. β© Reply
In the year of 2026, Nazi definition now has split camps. Conservative Americans term Nazi's the Liberal Americans, while Liberal Americans term Nazis people who support authoritarian regimes and Conservative Americans. β© Reply
Given there are so many definitions of Nazis, then which Nazis does Jojo Rabbit by Taika Waititi actually discuss is going to be understood only after taking account under which circumstances the film was made. Like rest of the films Waititi both directed and wrote, it is a comedy. Comedies about World War 2 are nothing new, after all, one of the seminal Lithuanian writers and not a Jew Balys Sruoga wrote the Forest of the Gods. There the author coped with the concentration camp trauma by laughing off the travesties. Taika Waititi was born in 1975, in New Zealand. World War 2 ended in 1945, thirty years before his birth. But he is Jewish. And World War 2, especially Nazis, are part of the cultural ethos. In a twisted way, to Jews, Adolf Hitler is in the ranks of Siamun or Zerubbabel β a historical person enshrouded in Judaic mythology. Since most Jews fled to America, particularly to Hollywood, which is in a state of California, the Jewish history was fused with American cinema. And various great directors, from Steven Spielberg to Quentin Tarantino, who are both Jewish and made films about the tremulous 40s. c:2 β© Reply
Taika Waititi comes into an already saturated world of World War 2 exploitation pieces. It is about Nazis in the conventional historical sense. With that not being enough, it has child Nazis. And the protagonist Johannes "Jojo" Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis) who loves Hitler so much, the Fiurher is his imaginary friend, played by the director himself. β© Reply
Even though Jojo speaks love about his homeland, there is little of interest to actually understand the nation itself. Rather than doing research into German literature, culture, history, he spends his time fantasizing about being a Hitler's right hand, a Schutzstaffel. β© Reply
The interaction with the German Reich is shown as ludicrous and idiotic. There is a scene where one of the workers brings a bunch of German shepherds. Not the dogs, but actual shepherds. Far from realistic, the director pokes fun at the system. Given it is a comedy, a lampoon, that is to be expected. The shouts of patriotism are more akin to militaristic fervor than anything Romantic. β© Reply
Given Waititi is a Kiwi, American politics do not really apply to him. Even so, there is a strong felt affection for Maori and Polynesian peoples as a whole. After all, he did write the first draft of the Disney movie Moana and not to mention his assistance on popularizing the Maori language. It could argued, his worldview leans liberal, due to support of indigenous peoples. β© Reply
Assuming such a case, there is a resemblance of resent for drunken power. Such is done by the existence of the Jewish girl Elsa Korr (Thomasin McKenzie). A cunning little woman, able to both physically and intellectually outmaneuver the fanatical Jojo. By taking his ceremonial dagger, it signals the disempowerment of the Nazi sympathizer. The importance of Ehrendolch β symbol of power β is brought into attention many times in the movie's runtime. There are many more cases the movie depicts the fetish for weapons and power as unsettling and wrong. To a point where the fascination of the weapons quite literally mutilates the protagonist's face. Such is the danger of toxic masculinity. As such, there could be remnants of Liberal American definition of Nazi. β© Reply
From the Conservative crowd, the Nazi word use does not seem to exist. That may be due to the, frankly, terrible definition. As much as I recall, the term was so overused, to a point where I cannot point at any coherent use of it, except as a generic insult. When considering comedies are jests with stories, the hard truth, the insults are told through laughter. By all means, that is the easiest way to take it in. Especially when it comes to such stomach-turning topics such as World War 2. β© Reply
When it comes to Nazis in Jojo Rabbit, besides the obvious historical definition, there is nothing much that can be said about them. Although a clear lampoon on the overly beat up 1940s Germany, it does not actually delineate with partisan definitions of the word. Besides being a yet another Jewish take on World War 2, what is the actual point of the movie, besides don't be a fanatic? I cannot answer. For more insight read up BlenderDumbass' review of the movie. Whatever be the case, write your own opinion about the movie or the term and please don't be a Nazi. β© Reply
Fin. β© Reply
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Blender Dumbass
c:0 April 05, 2026 It is impossible to answer what a Nazi is. Not because there is not such a thing, there is, rather that it means so many things, the terms is basically useless.
‴ ViewUmbrella term.
Blender Dumbass
c:2 April 05, 2026 And various great directors, from Steven Spielberg to Quentin Tarantino, who are both Jewish
‴ ViewI don't know about Quentin. As so far he has a Jewish wife and 2 Jewish kids. And he may or may not have been converted to judaism. But who the hell knows?
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