“Nazis, I hate these guys”: Indiana Jones as an antifascist memetic icon

Indiana Jones’ staunch anti-Nazism and the franchise’s satirical belittling and ridicule of the Third Reich render its protagonist an antifascist memetic icon. While considerable attention has been devoted to the digital media landscape of the right, less emphasis is given to left-wing movements and memetic warfare. Through analysis of humorous representations of German Nazis in the films, where Nazis appear as quintessential villains in Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, and a survey of memes from Reddit, the article presents an in-depth visual analysis of how Indiana Jones has become a meme disseminating antifascist messages online. Drawing on Shifman’s (L. Shifman (2014). Memes in Digital Culture. MIT Press) research on memes in digital culture, we argue that the “Indiana Jones as Antifa” meme cannot be described as a hypermemetic phenomenon but instead circulates as a political symbol in fringe, subcultural circles. By tracing the media historical roots of the “It is OK to punch Nazis” meme, this study contextualizes the invocation of Indiana Jones in contemporary meme culture. In doing so, we contribute to a deeper understanding of Indiana Jones’ status as an antifascist memetic icon in contemporary popular culture.