Featuring Elite Experts Combating Antisemitism

Speaker: Yaakov Kirschen Affiliation: Visiting Fellow (Artist in Residence), ISGAP; Cartoonist, “Dry Bones” Title: Memetics and the Viral Spread of Antisemitism Through ‘Coded Images’ in Political Cartoons Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT Date: Thursday, October 21, 2010 Description: Yaakov Kirschen discusses a new criteria to identify antisemitism in political cartoons by examining the presence of antisemitic image-codes. As a viral belief system, antisemitism has historically used image-based memophores to spread its constituent memes and to replicate itself in the minds of potential hosts. The portrayal of the Jew as a powerful demonic enemy of society serves as an important unifying force needed by mass movements in their quests for power. As evident from contemporary cartoons around the globe, use of these memetic image-codes in political cartoons has expanded beyond the groups known for transmitting antisemitic images.