ISIS-chan – the meanings of the Manga girl in image warfare against the Islamic State. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johansson, Anna
• Is Part Of: Critical studies on terrorism. Volume 11:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 25
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: ISIS-chan -- Islamic State -- image war -- manga girl -- trickster figure; Terrorism -- Periodicals; 363.32505
• DOI: 10.1080/17539153.2017.1348889
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1753-9153

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article explores gendered meanings of ISIS-chan, an Internet meme in the form of a manga girl, produced and used to disrupt the messages from the Islamic State. Moreover, it investigates the performative power of ISIS-chan, and how it is used/interpreted as it circulates on the Internet. The ISIS-chan campaign is seen as an example of how the girl figure is mobilised in the political context of the War on Terror. Characterised by girlish playfulness, humour and creativity, I suggest that ISIS-chan challenges the stereotypical representations of femininity in the War on Terror, and may be perceived as a trickster.