Christopher Ketcham - Unflattering Photos of Fascists: Authoritarianism in Trumps America

The photographs you see in this book were all taken at public, right wing extremist events. The purpose is to capture the ethos of the demonstrations, not to characterize the ideology or affiliations of every person depicted in the photos, let alone label everyone depicted a fascist. Some of those present may instead be garden-variety patriot militia members, Islamophobes, incels, western chauvinists, simple MAGA hat heads, or even just 4chan LARPERS, etc. Some may have had reasons for showing up unrelated to any ideological or social identification with white nationalism or white supremacy. Some perhaps were just curious or blundered onto the scene. Others might have reformed their views since these photos were taken.

Whatever their reasons for being there, everyone depicted in these photographs put themself adjacent to displays of white nationalism, the rhetoric and politics of which are too toxic to ignore. It is not a good look for anyone present and participating.

Fascist ideology is notoriously complex. It is built on contradictions that make it highly adaptable. Unflattering Photos of Fascists is not meant to be a reference volume on contemporary fascism. There are trustworthy sources for this information. A good place to start is Shane Burleys Fascism Today: What It is and How to End It (2017).

For those curious about the fascist symbols on display, have a look at our glossary on page 36. There is certainly some clownish humor in these photographs. At the same time, our glossary should provide serious eye opening for anyone skeptical of the danger posed by white nationalists and white supremacists (and the gravity of cavorting alongside them).

Christopher Ketcham

You are about to enter a world of people in a holy war. Their enemies are many. They are fighting against communists and socialists, and against multi-ethnic American integration, against the Democratic Party (for being a communist conspirac y ), against people of color and immigrants infringing on white identity, against non-Christians (Muslims especiall y ), against atheists, against liberals in cities, against yuppies and Jews and intellectuals and photographers like Jeff Schwilk. Kudos to Schwilk for immersing himself in this mob, trying to find some measure of humor in depicting what is otherwise a gallery offor want of a better wordassholes.

These beasts, gathered as a mob, might just murder us all given the chance.

For me it is a strange war they posit, a kind of fantasy warone whose enemies dont quite exist. The enemies are not identified by the warriors in any way that actually describes reality. Their war has no relationship to the overwhelming existential crisis that now faces humanity, the crisis of the coming climate-change-driven ecological disruption that threatens civilization. They fight for an undefined and elusive freedom. Its a petty, venal, purely individualistic freedom they seek. Always happy to tread on others despite what their flag says.

My prejudice as an environmental journalist, a prejudice which is perhaps my blind spot, is to spend time pondering the things that matter ultimatelyour relationship with mother earth, the provider of all life, and whether the relationship will be gentle or viciousand I forget that people have other motivations than ecology.

The folks depicted in Schwilks photographs are possibly good and kind in their personal lives, caring for their families, seeking something better for their children. But my guess is that, like most Americans, they dont give a rats ass about the earth and its future and are simply thinking of the short term. In terms of ecological mindfulness, to call them fascist or right wing really doesnt distinguish them from the putative enemy on the other side of the political equation, i.e. the left or the Democratic Party. Democrats and Republicans, left and right, are united all in the delusion that the earth can and should be inexhaustibly exploited for the benefit of the one holy species, Homo sapiens , and with such a destructive imprint that it will likely lead to civilizational suicide.

The enormously important question of whether we will hand down a livable planet to our children is not one you will find asked among the people in Schwilks gallery. It is not the matter at all. What I see depicted is stupid, blind, vicious selfishness. These are people with no understanding of political economy, no commitment to mutual aid, no understanding of ecology, no consciousness of humanitys all-important relations with the earth. And having no such understanding, they pose no threat to the capitalist system of economic growth.

What the dimwits want is simply more. And if it comes down to a choice of () more for us, the white chosen ones who are the more chosen of the chosen species, versus () sharing a little bit with the other less chosen of the chosen specieswell, then crank up the hate, increase the inequality. You can die for my convenience. The earth can die, too.

Is this a materialistic and reductionist view of the fascists depicted? Perhaps. I am not a good judge of human beings. I subscribe to the school of the sacred scrolls in the film Planet of the Apes : Beware the beast man, for he is the Devils pawn. Alone among Gods primates, he kills for sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brothers land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours.

I admit to great laughter at seeing the costumed ignoramuses parading, preening, and prancing about, and though Im tempted to say that they are harmless, I think that would be a mistake. These beasts, gathered as a mob, might just murder us all given the chance. If mother nature doesnt get to us first.

Unflattering Photos of Fascists

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