I'm putting this behind a cut due to anti-semitic and Nazi imagery and apologism for said anti-semitic imagery.

I am completely unfamiliar with the series myself, but in short, Axis Powers Hetalia is a webcomic/manga/anime series that depicts history in the form of personified countries. Here's The TVTropes page.

The fandom has been in the unfunny spotlight several times (see: a group of Hetalia cosplayers doing a Nazi salute at Anime Boston), and here's another mindblowing example.

I am not sure which character(s) these folks are cosplaying, but that's irrelevant in the face of the fact that they were photographed POINTING GUNS AT a depiction of a Star of David.

Let that sink in for a moment.

A Tumblr user named yumikarp, who has since deleted their entire Tumblr, has been quoted in reblogs defending said cosplayers:

This is called art.
I see nothing wrong in it, they are just living into their roles and doing what history has told. I have nothing against Jews, not at all, but I see nothing wrong in this because there is nothing wrong of it.
Sheesh, it’s like the over-religious people being all against that photographer woman who made pictures of Jesus being gay and having group sex. She didn’t do it without a meaning, and it wasn’t a racist meaning of any kind. It’s called art.
This is just the same.
These two people might actually be Jews themselves, who knows.
All they’re doing is making a scene of what history has told in the past.
The end.
Why take it so personal?
Why so serious?

One of the Cosplayers also tries to defend the photo as a "joke".

Hello, I’m Prussia in this photo.

This was just for a joke and very casual, because that place isn’t a church or anything related… just toilets’s park. LOL

The ORIGINAL pic is in Deviantart and mature CENSORED for obvious reasons. The other place is Photobucket, an album made for the ones that were in this photoshot. We didn’t want to offend anyone.

---

Impossible is nothing xDD Really I don’t care about what can people say about a photo that supposely we offense Jews, my mind is clear, since beginning that photo was just a joke, nothing serious and in a non-sacred place (oh well, maybe park’s toilets are sacred after a “bad meal” <33) Anyway <333 Relax yourself, if we have to be this point almost all hetalia’s fandom is historycally offensive. xDDD

Finally, and advertisment <333 ~ Use copyright in photos, because you’ll never expect who wants to fight or be a jerk <33

Because adding hearts and "XD" faces totally makes it better amirite?

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Re: *dons art major glasses*

rosehiptea
2011-07-02 10:18 pm UTC (link)

I'm not an expert on art theory myself, but I personally think people are allowed to be offended by something even if it's art. I agree that calling a photo of cosplayers clowning around "art" is pretty debatable. But even if you want to define art as "something somebody says is art" and include virtually anything, it doesn't make whatever it is automatically OK. I've never quite understood that argument.

I'm sure I could find any number of examples of something that's pretty undeniably "art" but I think whoever created it should have thought twice and done something else. (Being generous, here.)

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	Re: dons art major glasses tehrin 2011-07-02 10:24 pm UTC (link)
	Yes, offensive things can be art. i.e. Andre Serrano's "Piss Christ" or even Du Champ's "Fountain." I'm ambivalent about the theory because it doesn't apply to all of art such as art created for a patron or consumerism. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: dons art major glasses rosehiptea 2011-07-02 11:00 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, the example of "Piss Christ" occurred to me too. I agree that it's art, but that doesn't mean it wasn't created with offense in mind or that people have to be magically unoffended because it's "art." (But not being a Christian myself I probably shouldn't discuss it too much.) (Reply to this)(Parent)

	ninwhore 2011-07-02 10:33 pm UTC (link)
	I agree that calling a photo of cosplayers clowning around "art" is pretty debatable People calling photos like that art is the reason my ART MAJOR friend says that photography isn't a real form of art. Because anyone can take a picture but drawing takes talent Mmmm yeah, still bitter about that. /Personally planning on a photography career (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rosehiptea 2011-07-02 10:58 pm UTC (link)
	Because anyone can take a picture but drawing takes talent This is obviously a person who has never seen a photo I took. (No, seriously, ouch, I'd be bitter too.) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ninwhore
2011-07-02 11:34 pm UTC (link)

We were in a book store and I was showing her a photography book on elephants I think going "LOOK AT THIS. HOW IS THIS NOT ART?" Her response was more or less "An artist could draw that"

I think it's bothered me so much for YEARS because a friend was there agreeing with her and both of them knew I wanted to be a professional photographer. It was kinda like having someone say "Your dream job is something anyone can do and you're not a real artist if you do it" So I've had issues about it ever since yaaaaay

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	sepiamagpie 2011-07-03 12:14 am UTC (link)
	Well, I suppose throwing down a smoke bomb and 'escape from jackassery away!' was probably out of the question. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	beccastareyes 2011-07-03 04:08 am UTC (link)
	So does she think she doesn't need to learn composition/color theory/etc. and the only thing that makes drawing art is technique at putting ink/graphite/whatever on paper/other media? I'm just a scientist who draws anime characters in her spare time, but I can see the common threads between photography and other forms of visual art. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	cmdr_zoom 2011-07-03 04:16 am UTC (link)
	"Yes, an artist could have. In this case, an artist photographed it." (Reply to this)(Parent)

littleshebear
2011-07-03 05:26 pm UTC (link)

Roger Scruton continually trots out the idea that photography and film aren't independent works of art. A friend of mine was writing a paper arguing against him and she went to see our tutor to ask if she was going overboard with it saying, "I feel like I'm using a sledge-hammer to crack a nut." The tutor responded, "Well, when the nut in question is Roger Scruton, I say go for it."

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napalmnacey
2011-07-04 05:47 am UTC (link)

Well that's the biggest load of shit I've ever heard. I'm an artist, and I have access to good cameras, but I don't have the knowledge (did I spell that right? Brainf art) equipment or understanding to be a photographer. It's why when I need really good photos taken, I get photographer friends to do it. And I'm a fine artist that can paint some pretty damned spiffy pictures.

So ignore your friend. You're doing something awesome.

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t_boy
2011-07-03 04:50 am UTC (link)

As someone who has middling-to-terrible skills in photography, and has to cover for his photographers when they're not around, and appreciates the work they do, off and on work, your friend is an idiot.

It takes talent to figure out how to composition stuff. It takes talent to pick the time to capture the best moment. There are certain things you cannot even fix, even in post, and yes, digital cameras and Photoshop makes certain things easier, but seriously? Photography is still a matter of skill and luck, and sometimes you need the skill to make your luck, and that's a talent.

Specifically, it takes talent that I don't really have. Anyone who denies that it does is denying the obvious. And is an idiot.

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	sandglass 2011-07-03 06:08 pm UTC (link)
	Not to mention the equipment! I wanted to buy a new camera to take better cat pictures, and the details involved for finding something that could take good action shots blew my mind. You need knowledge and skill to properly work a camera! (Reply to this)(Parent)

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