Black Metal: SAFE HAVEN FOR EVIL?
By: Brandy Haro
How has black metal become a safe haven for people with discriminatory ideologies?
Pam Nilan (Festivals)
Jillian Fischer (Mythology)
Jillian Fischer(White Supremacy)
Jacquetta Newman (Alt-right Toxic Masculinity)
Van Doorne (White Masculinity)
"White Nationalism is for Basement Dwelling Losers"
Jillian Fischer (2022)
Back
OVERVIEW
Key Ideas
"White Nationalism is for Basement Dwelling Losers" is an exploration of political extremism in heavy metal music and is a critical examination of how far right political extremism has come about, including manifestations of certain themes like xenophobia, and how certain bands, even at surface level, propagate these feelings of hatred even in lyrics with no overtly racist themes.
NSBM bands often use previous ideas of what whiteness is and incorporate it into their music. As Lipsitz (referred to in this paper by Fischer) suggests, "whiteness is invisible, it is a backdrop and the normality, what everything else is compared to". In the Norwegian context, culture wars and arguments about immigration were arising in Norway, and frustrated people made angry music about it. They also often utilize social Darwinism constructs in their music, as Aryans are supposed to be the strongest race on the planet, and they achieve this through means of violence. In 2007, Der Sturmer (A Greek NSBM Band)'s guitarist Hjarulv Henker, called average European men "useless", and points out that the Aryans are a "war-like" and "conquering" people, to which he then described modernity using a slur against gay people.
Role in the Conversation
The groups that hold these these ideologies fall under the spectrum of what it is to be alt-right, going against founded institutions and becoming violent/radical over fears and insecurities, when they in fact, still make up the majority of the population, especially in places like Norway or Sweden.
"Black Metal, White Supremacy, and Fraught Masculinity"
Van Doorne (2022)
Back
OVERVIEW
Key Ideas
It is mentioned that cisgendered, white males dominate the metal music scene, and black metal is no exception. The aggressiveness and darkness of the genre is often attributed to male traits, thus more males enjoy it over females. In Northern European extreme folk metal music, the role of men in stories told and songs sang are of traditionally male feats, such as slaying beasts, pillaging villages, etc. Kathleen Blee conducted a study on masculinity and the far right as an ideology and as a demographic and found that "many far-right movements are vastly male-dominated, promising a homosocial brotherhood of young angry and rebellious men.
Van Doorne's article studies the intersection between black metal, white supremacy, and masculinity, noting how its roots in nihilism, darkness, and anti-establishment sentiments with the addition of white supremacist ideas make it more than artistic expression and more of a dangerous weapon in the radicalization of young men (and women) seeking companionship with people who are like-minded.
Role in the Conversation
The men in these groups feel out of place in their societies, with minority groups having more protections than before, they are allowed to flourish, while some whites feel as if they're being replaced, kicked out of their countries. This is what is known as the "Great Replacement Theory". These far-right groups allow these young men to feel not alone in their sentiments, and create an echo chamber of hate. These alt-right organizations often visit far-right music festivals like Asgardsrei in Kyiv, Ukraine to recruit more members.
"Pagan Metal Gods: The use of Mythology and White Supremacy in NSBM"
Back
Jillian Fischer (2022)
OVERVIEW
Key Ideas
Tying mysticism/religion to anything is often an effective way to lull people into a sense of belonging and ancestral connection. It is an important factor for building groups like these, because they can deeply connect to what the leader is saying. Original black metal's origins in Satanism, was a predecessor to this paganism, they were very anti-Christian, and they wanted to do things their own way. Everything started rolling down hill as violence increased among the fanbase. Hate crimes, church burnings, etc., were some things they would do to keep up the persona of true evil. There are still some elements of Satanism present in these Volkisch ideologies, because of how ontologically evil it started, and with Volk ideas of white supremacy only further cemented people's belief in these pseudopagan fusion religions. The goal of black metal was to be as extreme as possible and to go against the establishment, but despite whiteness being a majority, they still seek to rebel against something, which would be the minority establishment.
This article analyzes how NSBM bands adopted the usage of Asatruism and other pagan cultures to glorify an Aryan past. NSBM bands often use pagan imagery to tie their ideological agenda to their music, propagating white supremacist narratives witin the subculture, and allowing people to fall into the fantasy of what a real Aryan should be. Grounding this under religion also gives it a sense of connectivity, meaning anyone who believes in it or wants to believe in it can fall into these ideologies faster.
Role in the Conversation
Volkisch thinking comes from a deeply rooted belief that modernity is bad and that white people are supreme, like the Norse god-men that is so heavily pushed onto the masses who keep up with these things, calling them to take their righteous place. Volk, meaning a nation, or a people, creating a sense of nationalism.
"The Youth Appeal of Far-Right Music Festivals"
Pam Nilan (2021)
Back
OVERVIEW
Key Ideas
Nilan's article contextualizes the rise of far right movements through the help of far-right music festivals, and other forms of media.
These festivals are programmed and set up so that they appeal to as many attendees as possible, recruiting them for their alt-right terrorist groups. They also appeal to young men who feel alienated from their societies, and seeking companionship in fellow white men. The festivals appeal to "aggrieved entitlement" that many white men have. Support of the far-right may compensate for what these men feel by surrounding themselves by hypermasculinity. Then these young men, "achieve" hypermasculinity by discriminating against minorities Ultimately, what these festivals aim to do is to grow these organizations to build towards a heterogenous white masculinist utopia.
Role in the Conversation
Far-right propaganda idolizes a youthful militant young white man. At these festivals, displays of controlled aggression, like MMA matches, brutal music, weapon sales, etc., are common. These hyperbolic medieval displays of masculinity and mythology create the perfect fantasy.
"Turbulent Times, Transformational Possibilities? Gender and Politics Today and Tomorrow."
Back
Jacquetta Newman (2023)
OVERVIEW
Key Ideas
Hawley describes being alt-right as rejection of the conservative establishment, as a central tenet. "Whereas earlier right-wing critics of the conservative movement wanted a seat at a the conservative table, the alt-right wants to displace conservatism entirely and bring a brand of right-wing politics into the mainstream." Right-wingers also think that men are becoming increasingly more emasculated, even the mainstream right, but because of the alt-right intermixing with populism to stir up negative sentiments towards minority groups. The alt-right uses this hypermasculinization to deflect from the fact that they themselves are unsure in their masculinity, and cope by becoming violent and engaging in activities that one would find more masculine, (eg. what alt-right groups promise to men in order to add more to the ranks.)
In chapter 17, Newman provides and overview of the alt-right movement. It also covers gender dynamics andt he overwhelming amount of toxic masculinity within alt right groups, and the violence that comes at the hands of the alt-right, the toxic males, either as gendered hate crimes, minority related, etc.
Role in the Conversation
Toxic masculinity is another thing that is at the forefront of any alt-right movement. These men are angry at non-alt men for being "effeminate" and subservient, and hide behind their facade of hypermasculinity, generating widespread hatred for all groups that aren't conservative cisgender white males.
Mythology and Supremacy
Mythology/religion has always been a large part of what it means to understand things as a human. I think it's especially important to understand that how these ideas, like paganism, can directly influence how the fanbase sees themselves, and keeping up the persona of evil.
Supremacy and Masculinity
White male hegemony is as important to white supremacy, because white supremacy mainly involves white males fighting for their Aryan lives and values, without much care for the women in their lives.
Black Metal: Discrimination and Nazis
Brandy Haro
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Transcript
Black Metal: SAFE HAVEN FOR EVIL?
By: Brandy Haro
How has black metal become a safe haven for people with discriminatory ideologies?
Pam Nilan (Festivals)
Jillian Fischer (Mythology)
Jillian Fischer(White Supremacy)
Jacquetta Newman (Alt-right Toxic Masculinity)
Van Doorne (White Masculinity)
"White Nationalism is for Basement Dwelling Losers"
Jillian Fischer (2022)
Back
OVERVIEW
Key Ideas
"White Nationalism is for Basement Dwelling Losers" is an exploration of political extremism in heavy metal music and is a critical examination of how far right political extremism has come about, including manifestations of certain themes like xenophobia, and how certain bands, even at surface level, propagate these feelings of hatred even in lyrics with no overtly racist themes.
NSBM bands often use previous ideas of what whiteness is and incorporate it into their music. As Lipsitz (referred to in this paper by Fischer) suggests, "whiteness is invisible, it is a backdrop and the normality, what everything else is compared to". In the Norwegian context, culture wars and arguments about immigration were arising in Norway, and frustrated people made angry music about it. They also often utilize social Darwinism constructs in their music, as Aryans are supposed to be the strongest race on the planet, and they achieve this through means of violence. In 2007, Der Sturmer (A Greek NSBM Band)'s guitarist Hjarulv Henker, called average European men "useless", and points out that the Aryans are a "war-like" and "conquering" people, to which he then described modernity using a slur against gay people.
Role in the Conversation
The groups that hold these these ideologies fall under the spectrum of what it is to be alt-right, going against founded institutions and becoming violent/radical over fears and insecurities, when they in fact, still make up the majority of the population, especially in places like Norway or Sweden.
"Black Metal, White Supremacy, and Fraught Masculinity"
Van Doorne (2022)
Back
OVERVIEW
Key Ideas
It is mentioned that cisgendered, white males dominate the metal music scene, and black metal is no exception. The aggressiveness and darkness of the genre is often attributed to male traits, thus more males enjoy it over females. In Northern European extreme folk metal music, the role of men in stories told and songs sang are of traditionally male feats, such as slaying beasts, pillaging villages, etc. Kathleen Blee conducted a study on masculinity and the far right as an ideology and as a demographic and found that "many far-right movements are vastly male-dominated, promising a homosocial brotherhood of young angry and rebellious men.
Van Doorne's article studies the intersection between black metal, white supremacy, and masculinity, noting how its roots in nihilism, darkness, and anti-establishment sentiments with the addition of white supremacist ideas make it more than artistic expression and more of a dangerous weapon in the radicalization of young men (and women) seeking companionship with people who are like-minded.
Role in the Conversation
The men in these groups feel out of place in their societies, with minority groups having more protections than before, they are allowed to flourish, while some whites feel as if they're being replaced, kicked out of their countries. This is what is known as the "Great Replacement Theory". These far-right groups allow these young men to feel not alone in their sentiments, and create an echo chamber of hate. These alt-right organizations often visit far-right music festivals like Asgardsrei in Kyiv, Ukraine to recruit more members.
"Pagan Metal Gods: The use of Mythology and White Supremacy in NSBM"
Back
Jillian Fischer (2022)
OVERVIEW
Key Ideas
Tying mysticism/religion to anything is often an effective way to lull people into a sense of belonging and ancestral connection. It is an important factor for building groups like these, because they can deeply connect to what the leader is saying. Original black metal's origins in Satanism, was a predecessor to this paganism, they were very anti-Christian, and they wanted to do things their own way. Everything started rolling down hill as violence increased among the fanbase. Hate crimes, church burnings, etc., were some things they would do to keep up the persona of true evil. There are still some elements of Satanism present in these Volkisch ideologies, because of how ontologically evil it started, and with Volk ideas of white supremacy only further cemented people's belief in these pseudopagan fusion religions. The goal of black metal was to be as extreme as possible and to go against the establishment, but despite whiteness being a majority, they still seek to rebel against something, which would be the minority establishment.
This article analyzes how NSBM bands adopted the usage of Asatruism and other pagan cultures to glorify an Aryan past. NSBM bands often use pagan imagery to tie their ideological agenda to their music, propagating white supremacist narratives witin the subculture, and allowing people to fall into the fantasy of what a real Aryan should be. Grounding this under religion also gives it a sense of connectivity, meaning anyone who believes in it or wants to believe in it can fall into these ideologies faster.
Role in the Conversation
Volkisch thinking comes from a deeply rooted belief that modernity is bad and that white people are supreme, like the Norse god-men that is so heavily pushed onto the masses who keep up with these things, calling them to take their righteous place. Volk, meaning a nation, or a people, creating a sense of nationalism.
"The Youth Appeal of Far-Right Music Festivals"
Pam Nilan (2021)
Back
OVERVIEW
Key Ideas
Nilan's article contextualizes the rise of far right movements through the help of far-right music festivals, and other forms of media.
These festivals are programmed and set up so that they appeal to as many attendees as possible, recruiting them for their alt-right terrorist groups. They also appeal to young men who feel alienated from their societies, and seeking companionship in fellow white men. The festivals appeal to "aggrieved entitlement" that many white men have. Support of the far-right may compensate for what these men feel by surrounding themselves by hypermasculinity. Then these young men, "achieve" hypermasculinity by discriminating against minorities Ultimately, what these festivals aim to do is to grow these organizations to build towards a heterogenous white masculinist utopia.
Role in the Conversation
Far-right propaganda idolizes a youthful militant young white man. At these festivals, displays of controlled aggression, like MMA matches, brutal music, weapon sales, etc., are common. These hyperbolic medieval displays of masculinity and mythology create the perfect fantasy.
"Turbulent Times, Transformational Possibilities? Gender and Politics Today and Tomorrow."
Back
Jacquetta Newman (2023)
OVERVIEW
Key Ideas
Hawley describes being alt-right as rejection of the conservative establishment, as a central tenet. "Whereas earlier right-wing critics of the conservative movement wanted a seat at a the conservative table, the alt-right wants to displace conservatism entirely and bring a brand of right-wing politics into the mainstream." Right-wingers also think that men are becoming increasingly more emasculated, even the mainstream right, but because of the alt-right intermixing with populism to stir up negative sentiments towards minority groups. The alt-right uses this hypermasculinization to deflect from the fact that they themselves are unsure in their masculinity, and cope by becoming violent and engaging in activities that one would find more masculine, (eg. what alt-right groups promise to men in order to add more to the ranks.)
In chapter 17, Newman provides and overview of the alt-right movement. It also covers gender dynamics andt he overwhelming amount of toxic masculinity within alt right groups, and the violence that comes at the hands of the alt-right, the toxic males, either as gendered hate crimes, minority related, etc.
Role in the Conversation
Toxic masculinity is another thing that is at the forefront of any alt-right movement. These men are angry at non-alt men for being "effeminate" and subservient, and hide behind their facade of hypermasculinity, generating widespread hatred for all groups that aren't conservative cisgender white males.
Mythology and Supremacy
Mythology/religion has always been a large part of what it means to understand things as a human. I think it's especially important to understand that how these ideas, like paganism, can directly influence how the fanbase sees themselves, and keeping up the persona of evil.
Supremacy and Masculinity
White male hegemony is as important to white supremacy, because white supremacy mainly involves white males fighting for their Aryan lives and values, without much care for the women in their lives.