Plot: A documentary that traces the origin of the West's culture wars back to the origin of 4-chan, the infamous social network where people were allowed to post anonymously. From there on, it traces 4-chan's involvement in various high-profile public cases, showing how it transformed from a meme-board into a counter-culture rebellion.
Watches
September 10, 2024
Though I've never been an active part of 4-chan culture, I was around and aware of its existence, and I enjoyed some of its lighter, funnier parts. The documentary shows how it morphed into something less innocent and does so quite convincingly, though it does take a few shortcuts that undermine its message (like the Gamergate segment without a single mention of Anita Sarkeesian).
That said, the makers seemed intelligent enough to realize this wasn't simple cause and effect, but part of a much bigger context that isn't handled by this documentary. That sentiment saved it for me and created the space to enjoy the parts it did cover. An interesting watch, though quite traditional in setup.