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Analyzing White Supremacist Content and Framing Devices on Youtube University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020- 2020 (Main)streaming Hate: Analyzing White Supremacist Content and Framing Devices on YouTube Christopher Charles University of Central Florida Part of the Race and Ethnicity Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020 University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020- by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Charles, Christopher, "(Main)streaming Hate: Analyzing White Supremacist Content and Framing Devices on YouTube" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-. 27. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020/27 (MAIN)STREAMING HATE: ANALYZING WHITE SUPREMACIST CONTENT AND FRAMING DEVICES ON YOUTUBE by C. DOUG CHARLES B.A. University of Central Florida, 2014 M.A. University of Central Florida, 2016 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Sociology in the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Spring Term 2020 Major Professor: J. Scott Carter ABSTRACT The emboldening of white supremacist groups, as well as their increased mainstream presence in online circles, necessitates the creation of studies that dissect their tactics and rhetoric, while offering platform-specific insights. This study seeks to address these needs by analyzing white supremacist content and framing devices on the video hosting website, YouTube. Data were collected through a multi-stage sampling technique, designed to capture a ‘snapshot’ of white supremacist content on the platform during a 45-day period in 2019. After line-by-line coding and qualitative thematic analysis, results showed that sampled channels varied between different levels of color-blindness and overt racialization in their framing. Furthermore, channels containing more color-blind approaches yielded higher subscriber counts than their counterparts. What this indicates is that sampled channels use framing to both activate racial threat and minimize race, attempting to reproduce racism while avoiding coming off as racist in the color-blind, mainstream political climate. Secondary findings also show how sampled channels (a) rhetorically bridge the gap between fascism, nationalism, hegemonic gender roles, and mainstream conservative thought; (b) reconcile the idea of political action within a perilous and conspiratorial worldview; (c) leverage interactive, visual media to engage, manage, and collect funding from their audiences. This study is unique because it unpacks the discursive intricacies of white supremacist messaging, while showing the processes by which a racist society is reproduced in the cosmopolitan, digital hub that is YouTube. It sets precedent and opens doors for future inquiry into how social media platforms are used as tools to mainstream white supremacist ideas. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation would not be possible without the help of my committee chair, Dr. J. Scott Carter, whose mentorship and excellent advice proved invaluable at every stage of this process. Thank you, Dr. Shannon Carter, for your continued help as far back as my undergraduate years. You truly inspired me to find my passion as a sociologist. Thank you, Dr. Michael Armato, for your equally energizing and insightful discussions about politics and sociology. Finally, thank you, Dr. Cameron Lippard, for your expertise and excellent feedback. I would also like to thank family and friends, who have encouraged and supported me — in particular, my mother and academic role model, Bonnie Swan. All of you have shaped me into the person I am today, and for that I am deeply grateful. My gratitude especially goes out to those who had the willingness, patience, and stomach to act as sounding boards for the countless interpretations and frames I went through before landing on the ones you see here. I am particularly indebted to my friend, David Parchment, whose late-night skype calls and political insight helped with some of the most critical questions in my research. Also, Trisha Whitmire, whose bottomless love and understanding helped me pull through, even when things seemed bleak. Impending Doom is overrated. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 Rationale/Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 3 Theory ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter Overview ....................................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER TWO: METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................... 12 Stage One .................................................................................................................................. 17 Stage Two ................................................................................................................................. 25 A Treatise on Terminology ....................................................................................................... 29 CHAPTER THREE: THE MANIFEST ........................................................................................ 31 White Supremacy Online .......................................................................................................... 33 Impacting ‘Neutral’ Online Space ........................................................................................ 35 The “Alt-right” ...................................................................................................................... 37 Fundraising and the Suitability of YouTube as a Platform ................................................... 40 White Supremacist Video Content and its Role as ‘Alternative’ Media .............................. 43 Findings..................................................................................................................................... 44 Monetizing the Message ....................................................................................................... 45 iv Presentation Styles ................................................................................................................ 47 Comments ............................................................................................................................. 49 Ideology Through Aesthetics: Idyllic Nature and the Hauntology of Fashwave .................. 53 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 57 CHAPTER FOUR: FRAMING HATE ........................................................................................ 58 Defining Frames........................................................................................................................ 59 Racism with a Smile ............................................................................................................. 61 Color-Blind Frames .............................................................................................................. 65 Findings..................................................................................................................................... 67 Don’t Scare Away the Normies ............................................................................................ 67 The JQ and Saying it Without Saying it ............................................................................... 71 CHAPTER FIVE: CAPITALIZING ON CONSERVATISM ...................................................... 80 The Perversity Thesis and Iron Laws of Hierarchy .................................................................. 81 Justifying Homogeneity ............................................................................................................ 85 Degeneracy and the Fascist Return to Purity ............................................................................ 90 Myths and Fascism ................................................................................................................... 94 Myths and White Nationalism .................................................................................................. 98 CHAPTER SIX: COMFORT ..................................................................................................... 104 Comfort Frames ...................................................................................................................... 107 v The Ugly Truth ................................................................................................................... 108 Guilt Management .............................................................................................................. 112 Victory and Supremacy......................................................................................................
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