[ WHY AOT AS "PRO-NAZI, FASCIST PROPAGANDA" IS IN ALL ASPECTS WRONG, INSENSITIVE, AND POLITICALLY TONE-DEAF ]

— a necessary, easily comprehensive thread.

#AttackonTitan #ShingekinoKyojin (contains #aot131spoilers)

Comparing fiction to real-world conflict and history that inflicted racial dispute, traumatizing experiences, and continuing consequences that are still felt today is disrespectful and degrading to the actual victims who experienced the war first hand.

We should all be sensitive as to what issues and allusions we compare to fiction because it is all it is: fiction. And to be mad over a story allegedly "inspired" by history without any concrete evidence that it is pro-Nazi and fascist is tone deaf and insensitive.

There has been a lot of accusations circulating the internet that Attack on Titan is fascist propaganda and introduces fascist subtexts throughout the whole narrative. I believe we are all familiar with this one (1) article that is repeatedly cited everywhere:

While the article cites praise over the fundamental elements of the manga: it's imagery and aesthetic, depictions and actions, and interpreted allusions to real-world history; it, however, failed to grasp the concept of one thing: it's depictions and key plot point.

First, let's start with the meaning: fascist.

A fascist society would: 1) practice distinctive politics that arouses enthusiasm thru sophisticated propaganda techniques for an anti-liberal, anti-socialist, violently exclusionary, expansionist nationalist agenda.

2) Fascist communities shut down any dissent, opinions, and perspectives that are against the government; imposes authoritarian control over all citizens, and the prime priority of this society is the military and it's nationalistic implementations.

3) Freedom and fascism are at opposite ends of the political spectrum (keep these in mind).

[ NOW FOR MAIN ARGUMENTS ]

1) AoT denounces historical, political, and information manipulation and revisionism.

In a dialogue between Hange and the journalists, in favor of the military police, the publishing company agrees to writing the sequence of events the wrong way.

> And that is to disregard all integrity and honour in journalism, to give up the truth to please the Military Police-- and this does not only happen in fiction, it happened and still happens today, with millions dying just because of misinformation.

> AND THE NARRATIVE DISAGREES TO THAT. AoT strongly emphasizes that the truth must not be filtered for the sake of anyone. Here, Hange convinces them to report ONLY the truth.

2) Freedom is the main theme of AoT, and it does not state whether the means of achieving it is right or wrong, but the fact remains that freedom is exclusively the opposite of fascism; and to argue that the series is pro-fascist already cancels that point. (see: meaning no. 3)

> It has been evident throughout the whole series that if the means to achieve freedom is deliberately taking away others', you become enslaved to your ideals. Note the paradox.

> With that being said, the series makes the readers question if war is actually necessary to achieve freedom, and if the death of a million innocent lives over the cost of one's freedom is justifiable.

3) AoT does not support actions and philosophies inflicting war and conflict. If you have read and understood the manga, although the plot is heavily influenced with the advent and agonies of war-- the theme contradicts the ideas and outcomes of war.

> It depicts war as a neverending cycle of unnecessary violence, hatred, and unrest. It depicts that the downside of war outweighs the outcome, and should not be, therefore, practiced and executed.

> On violence. AoT literally depicted love of violence from a despicable, inherently immoral man without any redeeming qualities.

violence = evil and immoral

3) AoT advocates for peace and mutual respect among countries of different races. It promotes understanding and objects any idea of racial discrimination, historical differences, and alienation.

> Nationalistic brainwash inflicted by the government is wrong and dangerous that can lead to fatal consequences; and extreme ideals may lead to one's demise.

> More than anything AoT depicted that it's characters have become enslaved to the horrors of war and discrimination inflicted by racial prejudice and historical oppression. To argue that it is fascist is to say that these horrors, even in real life, are justifiable.

To say that aot is fascist is to discriminately shadow other themes that go with its narrative, and to label it as violence-tolerating, fascist-supporting text without any evidence at all is just wrong.

tl;dr: None, read the thread.

[ END OF THREAD ]

To add, READ: https://twitter.com/ErenHasLice/status/1291009418474205186?s=19