Strange Web Trends: Nazi Re-Subtitles
Viral video mashups often play off of jarring juxtapositions. The Brokeback parodies, the animated Soulja Boy remixes, and even the basic webcam lip-synch videos rely on an internal and intrinsic contrast. But these oddball combinations pale in their scope when held up against numerous videos of the same rancorous scene from the film The Downfall, each with a re-subtitled treatment.
Hitler Gets Banned (His Ultimate Downfall)
The film tells the story of Adolf Hitler’s final hours at the end of World War II in a bunker in Berlin. The scene in the film depicts Hitler’s self-deception as he learns that the German war machine has crumbled and Allied forces are quickly closing in; his cinematic tantrum is on par with “Angry German Kid’s” video game-induced fit.
Hitler: Bloodthirsty Dictator, Die-hard Cowboys Fan
The first of these Aryan mashups I could find was posted a little over a year ago and showed Hitler flipping out over his recently stolen car; it received unimpressive video views. But with the help of some Digg love and X-Box fans and critics’ strong opinions on Microsoft’s draconian anti-modding policies, the video of Hitler’s canceled X-Box Live has earned over two million views. More recently, Cracked.com, the online arm of the long-running humor magazine, posted Hitler’s sports fan frenzy following the Cowboys’ devastating loss in NFC championship. The video has garnered over a million views since its posting a mere week ago.
A key to this strange web trend is the ease of creating your own version. Adding a new set of subtitles is exceedingly easy and allows the author to take the clip in absolutely any direction they want, as you can see from the variety of themes. From modded X-Boxes to the high-def format wars to the Cowboys defeat, Hitler’s wrath is equally vehement.
The videos are a sort of discordant pop culture. Hitler’s hyperbolic furor works because we all know how adamant fanboys and sports fans can be. Seeing history’s leading megalomaniac strangely humanized in a road rage-esque outburst puts the world’s important figures in a humbler light. Conversely, it puts the frivolities of modern day drama and format wars in an appropriately cowing context.
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[...] Craig Rubens wrote a fantastic post today on “Strange Web Trends: Nazi Re-Subtitles”Here’s ONLY a quick extractMore recently, Cracked.com, the online arm of the long-running humor magazine, posted Hitler’s sports fan frenzy following the Cowboys’ devastating loss in NFC championship. The video has garnered over a million views since its posting … [...]
Football » Strange Web Trends: Nazi Re-Subtitles on January 30th, 2008 at 4:40 am - Permalink
I was upset you didnt include my “Downfall of MySpace”
Enjoy.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NXINq-hQJUw
ohigotchya on January 30th, 2008 at 10:50 am - Permalink
Xbox banned, Cowboys lost, HD-DVD fell. Apparently, the Fuhrer is having a very bad year.
Mike Abundo on January 30th, 2008 at 10:54 am - Permalink
He is not happy about the soccer results either
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP0dTWRCJeQ
Toby Moores on January 30th, 2008 at 2:45 pm - Permalink
Def one of my fave memes, Chris. I dig your interpretation of the Hitler/popcult juxtaposition, which gives each argument the absurdist weight of historical inevitability.
But the reason I find the Downfall clip so innately meme-able is its adaptability to any argument. As I wrote for the Hollywood Reporter, it’s a mad libs for arguing: http://www.reelpopblog.com/2008/01/a-mad-libs-for.html
Steve Bryant on January 31st, 2008 at 5:27 am - Permalink
Ack, I meant Craig. Sorry guys!
Steve Bryant on January 31st, 2008 at 5:28 am - Permalink
[...] NewTeeVee recently posted a look at a new video meme: re-subtitling a scene from Downfall, in which Hitler (portrayed by the amazing Bruno Ganz) flips the hell out when he realizes just how screwed the Third Reich actually is. Instead, the new subtitles have him going off about football, the fall of HD-DVD, and even his Xbox Live account. [...]
The Downfall of Hitler's Console » Needcoffee.com on February 3rd, 2008 at 5:03 pm - Permalink
I published my (meta) Hitler Downfall parody just recently:
“Hitler Is A Meme”
SEAN O
Sean O on May 22nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm - Permalink
hi
I’m trying to do my own Downfall mash. The only way that I can put on my own subtitles is by blocking out the existing ones with black and the adding new text. There must be a simpler and better way.
cann anyone help?
grant on December 7th, 2008 at 8:31 am - Permalink
[...] mundo, alguém teve a brilhante ideia de pegar esse trecho e legendá-lo… livremente. Segundo este artigo do NewTeeVee, o primeiro vídeo do tipo falava sobre um carro roubado. Confira (legendas em [...]
O vídeo legendado de Hitler « Rodrigo Ghedin on June 12th, 2009 at 5:22 am - Permalink