They’re being ironic and edgy. Probably.
The question is only whether you consider ironic racism (in this case mocking 19th and 20th century “race science” with reversals of focus) to be racism regardless.
I don’t think so, but there’s also always elements of Poe’s Law to consider. Not to mention that, for example, British and American racists literally said these things unironically about Germans, reaching fever pitches in WW1.
We all know words can’t really express sarcasm or other underlying feelings or meanings very clearly. Without a /s your only able to assume if the they did or didn’t actually mean that.
So what’s the joke? Are they’re pretending to be racist without the topic (rammstein) ever mentioning race to begin with?
I don’t buy that. ‘Please excuse me. I’m just going to be sarcastically racist without anyone previously mentioning race!’ – It’s straight out of the alt-right playbook; when called out, claim it’s a sarcastic, ironic joke!
No clue, could be either. It’s text on a screen and the only emotion present, is the one you decide to apply to it.
Ask them if it was a joke or not to be sure, and if you have to ask, it’s because it might not be.
Sounds like you’re going to lengths to defend this behaviour or to differentiate it.
No apologia is allowed
If you say any group of people are prone to rape because of their brains, then that is racist.
Do you, for example, think Robert Downey Jr’s blackface in Tropic Thunder was racism or a criticism of racism?
Did he say ‘the African American brain is prone to sexual assault’?
That is one of the traditional meanings of blackface, yes.
It’s also clear that the intended meaning of the act is innately critical of that mentality.
If you disagree that it is acceptable that’s valid but ignoring that the act was at least an attempt at well intentioned criticism is just dishonest.
What race is German?
You’re like those Nazis saying: “What race is black?” “What race is Islam?”
Yeah Islam isn’t a race either. It is a religion. And what point are you trying to make exactly? It sounds like you’re mad that I asked what race German is. What race are you then, American?
