Luc S. Cousineau

 

Leisure, Technology, and Far/New Right Ideologies
in 4 Parts

The images below are hosted to compliment a chapter written for the text Research Handbook on the Sociology of Leisure to Edward Elgar Publishing. They are hosted here so that they are available to readers of the chapter in their original form.

This image is a digitally created artwork designed with a retro, 1980s-inspired aesthetic, resembling an old VHS screen. The scene is composed of a neon-colored grid landscape, rendered in shades of purple, blue, and green, with mountains formed by jagged waveform-like lines in the background. The image is overlaid with artificial scanlines and distortion, giving it an intentionally aged and analog look. On the left side of the image stands a cartoon character resembling Hank Hill from the animated series *King of the Hill*, modified to appear more sinister. The character wears a white t-shirt and jeans, holding a drink, but his face is partially covered with a skull-patterned face mask or balaclava, lending a threatening or extremist tone. He has glasses and short hair, and the overall rendering is stylized in a glitchy, low-resolution format. Behind the character, prominently centered in the image, is a large symbol in neon red and purple colors. This symbol is known as the “Black Sun” (Sonnenrad), a design that has been appropriated by far-right and neo-Nazi groups. It consists of twelve radial sig runes enclosed in a circular pattern, resembling a sunwheel. Text in glitchy, rainbow-colored font at the top left reads: “RECLAIM YOUR BIRTHRIGHT AND YOUR BIRTHRIGHT ACCESSORIES.” This phrase, combined with the visual elements and symbol, indicates an extremist, ethnonationalist message cloaked in internet meme culture and vaporwave aesthetics, often used to subtly propagate hate speech or radical ideologies under the guise of irony or satire.

"Reclaim Your Birthright" Hank Hill Fashwave Meme - KnowYourMeme.com - https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/2339910-fashwave-tradwave

This image is a digitally created poster styled to mimic a retro VHS cover with strong 1980s aesthetics, characterized by neon colors, pixelated textures, and artificial film grain. The poster’s background consists of a vivid sunset over a grid-like landscape that stretches to the horizon, evoking a cyberpunk or dystopian future. Lightning bolts and a glowing sun add dramatic flair to the sky, which is tinged in shades of red, purple, and orange. In the foreground, a heavily stylized image of a soldier stands with his back to the viewer, rendered in a purplish hue. The figure wears a combat helmet and gear, carrying a large weapon slung across his back. The soldier’s appearance is somewhat abstract, possibly resembling a statue or mannequin more than a living person, adding to the surreal tone of the composition. Bold, neon-blue and pink text dominates the top of the poster, reading “TAKE BACK OUR FUTURE” in capital letters, with "OUR FUTURE" styled in cursive pink neon. Below the soldier, in pixelated white text, the poster reads: “PARIS FELL IN 2020. LONDON 2022. BERLIN UNDER SIEGE. NEOCRUSADERS STRUGGLE ON EVERY FRONT. MOTHER EVROPA BLEEDS.” The choice of words and stylization suggests a dystopian or alternate-history narrative with militant, possibly far-right or nationalist undertones. A prominent "VHS" label appears in the bottom left corner, further emphasizing the retro aesthetic. Overall, the imagery and language evoke themes of conflict, desperation, and a call to reclaim a perceived lost identity or future.

“TAKE BACK OUR FUTURE” fashwave meme. KnowYourMeme.com - https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1219838-fashwave-tradwave