What is Countryball? A Guide to the Geopolitical Satire Meme
If you are a fan of internet memes, you may have come across some comics featuring balls with eyes and flags, representing different countries or political entities. These are called countryballs, and they are a popular form of geopolitical satire that poke fun at national stereotypes, international relations, and historical events. But where did this meme come from, and what are its main characteristics? In this article, we will explore the origin, features, and popularity of countryball, as well as some of its controversies and criticisms.
countryball
The Origin of Countryball
The first countryballs were created in 2009, but they have roots in an earlier online phenomenon.
The Drawball.com Incident
In August 2009, thousands of Polish internet users from various sites raided a website called drawball.com, where users could freely draw on a circular canvas. They covered the entire canvas with the Polish flag and the word "POLSKA", creating a literal "Poland ball". This was seen as an act of patriotism and trolling by the Polish users, but also as an annoyance and provocation by other users.
The Krautchan.net Comics
In September 2009, a British user named Falco on a German imageboard called Krautchan.net started making comics featuring Poland as an upside-down ball with poor English skills. He did this to mock a Polish troll named Wojak, who often posted on the board. Falco used Microsoft Paint to make his comics look crudely drawn, and he also added other countries as balls, such as Germany, Russia, and the UK. His comics became popular among other users on the board, especially Russians, who joined in making fun of Poland and other countries.
The comics also gained more attention after the death of Lech Kaczyński, the president of Poland, in a plane crash in Smolensk in April 2010. Some comics made jokes about the tragedy, while others expressed sympathy or solidarity.
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The Features of Countryball
Countryball comics have some distinctive features that make them recognizable and unique.
The Characters
The main characters of countryball comics are balls with eyes without pupils, decorated with their national flags. They usually have simple expressions and movements, such as smiling, frowning, crying, jumping, or walking. Some countries have additional features that reflect their stereotypes or history, such as:
Poland: always upside-down, sometimes wearing sunglasses or a winged hussar helmet.
Germany: square-shaped, sometimes wearing a pickelhaube helmet or a Nazi armband.
Russia: wearing an ushanka hat or a tracksuit, sometimes drunk or wielding a weapon.
USA: wearing sunglasses or a cowboy hat, sometimes obese or shooting guns.
UK: wearing a monocle or a top hat, sometimes drinking tea or being sarcastic.
France: wearing a beret or a striped shirt, sometimes surrendering or being arrogant.
China: having slanted eyes or speaking in "Engrish".
Japan: having big anime eyes or being obsessed with technology or culture.
Australia: upside-down like Poland, sometimes wearing a cork hat or being attacked by animals.
Canada: having a leaf on its head or being polite or apologetic.
There are also other types of balls that represent regions, cities, organizations, ideologies, religions, ethnicities, or historical entities. For example:
EU: a ball with stars on a blue background.NATO: a ball with a compass on a blue background.
ISIS: a black ball with Arabic writing.
Reichtangle: a rectangle with the German Empire flag, representing Germany's imperial ambitions.
Sealand: a tiny ball with a red cross on a white background, representing a micronation on an offshore platform.
Anschluss: a small ball with the Austrian flag, representing Austria's annexation by Nazi Germany.
Some balls also have relationships or interactions with each other, such as allies, enemies, rivals, friends, or lovers. For example:
Germany and France: often depicted as enemies or frenemies, due to their historical conflicts and cooperation.
Russia and Ukraine: often depicted as hostile or abusive, due to their political and territorial disputes.
USA and UK: often depicted as allies or friends, due to their shared language and culture.
China and Taiwan: often depicted as enemies or siblings, due to their complex status and history.
Poland and Lithuania: often depicted as lovers or ex-lovers, due to their historical union and separation.
The Language
The language of countryball comics is usually simple and informal, using broken English or intentional misspellings to convey the accents or personalities of the characters. For example:
Poland: "Poland cannot into space."
Germany: "Germany is of stronk."
Russia: "Russia is of glorious."
USA: "USA is of best country."
UK: "UK is of very civilised."
France: "France is of hon hon hon."
China: "China is of number one."
Japan: "Japan is of kawaii."
Australia: "Australia is of upside down."
Canada: "Canada is of sorry."
The comics also use some common phrases or catchphrases that are associated with certain countries or situations. For example:
"Remove kebab": a phrase used by Serbia or other Balkan countries to express their hatred or violence towards Turkey or other Muslim countries."Gib clay": a phrase used by any country to demand land or territory from another country.
"Anschluss": a word used by Germany or Reichtangle to express their desire to annex or unify with other countries, especially Austria.
"Börk": a word used by Sweden or other Nordic countries to imitate their language or accent.
"Hue": a word used by Brazil or other Latin American countries to express their laughter or joy.
"Yuo are of worst X": a phrase used by any country to insult another country by comparing them to a disliked or inferior entity, such as "Yuo are of worst Korea" or "Yuo are of worst Turkic".
The Humor
The humor of countryball comics is usually based on satire, irony, sarcasm, exaggeration, or absurdity. The comics often make jokes about the stereotypes, cultures, histories, politics, or personalities of the countries or regions they represent. They also make jokes about current events, international relations, historical events, or hypothetical scenarios. Some examples of common themes or topics are:
The space race and exploration, especially Poland's inability to reach space.
The World Wars and their aftermaths, especially Germany's role and fate.
The Cold War and its conflicts, especially the rivalry between the USA and the USSR.
The European Union and its integration, expansion, or disintegration.
The Middle East and its wars, crises, or conflicts, especially the involvement of Israel, Iran, or ISIS.
The Asia-Pacific and its development, growth, or challenges, especially the role of China, Japan, or India.
The Americas and their diversity, unity, or problems, especially the influence of the USA, Canada, or Brazil.
The Africa and its potential, issues, or opportunities, especially the role of South Africa, Nigeria, or Egypt.
The comics also use some common tropes or devices to create humor, such as:
Breaking the fourth wall: when a character acknowledges or interacts with the audience or the comic itself.Plot twist: when a character or a situation reveals an unexpected or surprising outcome or revelation.
Running gag: when a joke or a situation is repeated or referenced throughout the comics.
Crossover: when a character or a situation from another meme, media, or genre appears or interacts with the countryballs.
Parody: when a comic imitates or mocks the style, format, or content of another meme, media, or genre.
The Popularity of Countryball
Countryball comics have become very popular and widespread on the internet, as well as in other media and platforms.
The Online Communities
There are many online communities dedicated to creating, sharing, and discussing countryball comics. Some of the most notable ones are:
: a subreddit with over 800,000 subscribers, where users can post and comment on countryball comics. It has strict rules and quality standards for submissions and comments, as well as a ban on reposts and x-posts. It also hosts contests, events, and collaborations among users.
: a wiki with over 10,000 pages, where users can create and edit articles about countryballs, characters, comics, events, and more. It also has a forum, a chat, and a blog for users to interact and communicate.
: a website with over 20,000 comics, where users can upload and view countryball comics. It also has a rating system, a comment section, and a search function for users to browse and discover comics.
: a website with over 5,000 comics, where users can create and share countryball comics using an online editor. It also has a gallery, a forum, and a blog for users to showcase and discuss their comics.
The Media Adaptations
Countryball comics have also inspired or been adapted into other forms of media, such as:
Videos: some users have made animated videos or live-action videos based on countryball comics or characters. Some examples are .
Books: some users have published or self-published books or ebooks based on countryball comics or characters. Some examples are .
Merchandise: some users have created or sold merchandise based on countryball comics or characters, such as stickers, magnets, plushies, mugs, shirts, posters, and more. Some examples are .
The Academic and Critical Reception
Countryball comics have also attracted the attention and interest of some academics and critics, who have analyzed or discussed their cultural, social, political, or artistic aspects. Some examples are:
: a master's thesis by Eirik Vesterkjær from the University of Oslo, Norway, that examines the geopolitical themes and messages of countryball comics.
: a journal article by Anna Wendorff from the University of Wrocław, Poland, that explores the role of countryball comics in constructing and expressing national identity in a globalized world.
: a book chapter by Nicolas Hubé from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, France, that analyzes the geopolitical humor and satire of countryball comics.
: a conference paper by Martin Paul Eve from Birkbeck, University of London, UK, that discusses the artistic aspects and influences of countryball comics.
Conclusion
Countryball is a popular and unique form of geopolitical satire that uses balls with flags and eyes to represent different countries or regions. It originated from an online raid by Polish users on drawball.com and a series of comics by a British user on Krautchan.net. It has distinctive features such as crude drawings, broken English, and national stereotypes. It has become very popular and widespread on the internet, as well as in other media and platforms. It has also attracted the attention and interest of some academics and critics, who have analyzed or discussed its cultural, social, political, or artistic aspects.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about countryball:
Q: Is countryball racist or offensive?A: Countryball is meant to be a form of satire and humor that mocks or criticizes various countries or regions based on their stereotypes or history. It is not intended to be racist or offensive, but rather to make fun of everyone equally. However, some people may find some comics or jokes insensitive, inappropriate, or hurtful, depending on their personal views or experiences.
Q: How can I make my own countryball comic?A: You can make your own countryball comic using any drawing software or online editor that you prefer. You can also use some templates or guides that are available online. However, you should follow some basic rules and conventions that are common among countryball comics, such as using balls with flags and eyes, using broken English or misspellings, using simple expressions and movements, avoiding circles or curves, avoiding gradients or shadows, avoiding pupils or mouths, avoiding flags with text or logos, etc.
Q: Where can I find more countryball comics?A: You can find more countryball comics on various online communities dedicated to creating, sharing, and discussing them. Some of the most notable ones are r/pol andball, Polandball Wiki, Countryballs.net, and Countryball World. You can also find them on other websites, such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Q: What are some of the best or most famous countryball comics?A: There are many countryball comics that are considered to be the best or most famous by the fans or the critics. Some of them are:
: a comic that shows Poland's failed attempts to reach space, and its eventual success with the help of Germany.
: a comic that shows Germany's history and identity through its different forms and names.
: a comic that shows the interactions and relationships among the Nordic countries, such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
: a comic that shows the immigration and assimilation of different countries to the USA.
: a comic that shows Australia's war against emus in 1932.
Q: What are some of the controversies or criticisms of countryball?A: Countryball has also faced some controversies or criticisms from some people or groups, such as:
Some countries or governments have banned or censored countryball comics or websites, claiming that they are offensive, disrespectful, or harmful to their national image or interests. For example, China, Turkey, Iran, and Poland have reportedly blocked or restricted access to some countryball websites or content.
Some users or communities have accused or reported other users or communities of plagiarism, stealing, or reposting their countryball comics or content without permission or credit. For example, r/polandball has banned x-posts from other subreddits or websites that use their comics without attribution.
Some critics or observers have argued or questioned the quality, originality, diversity, or accuracy of countryball comics or content. For example, some have claimed that countryball comics are repetitive, predictable, boring, or unfunny. Others have pointed out that countryball comics are biased, inaccurate, misleading, or ignorant of some countries or regions.
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