DISCUSSION: THE ALT-RIGHT OF OUR DISCONTENT

Is the alt-right still “alt”? What began as a fringe digital subculture has since seeped into the mainstream, bleeding into politics, media, and everyday life. This panel will dig into the aesthetics of the movement – its memes, sounds, and lingo – and ask when and why the alt-right became cool. How do male loneliness, gamer culture, and even Spotify playlists feed processes of radicalisation? What role do algorithms play in amplifying this ideology? Juxtaposing international trends with the Polish context, the panelists will consider whether the “Save Europe” aesthetic reflects global patterns or distinct local trajectories. Ultimately, we ask whether the alt-right is merely edgy performance and vibes, or a lived set of convictions – and who profits when those lines blur. Moderated by digital artist and researcher Kat Zavada, the discussion features journalist Kieran Press-Reynolds and illustrator-writer Aleksandra Herzyk.