Manufacturing weirdos that are disconnected from reality is straightforward, and the fascists are investing heavily in it because from there, they practically push themselves into voting against their own interests with hate, conspiracism, and memes. Steve Bannon has explicitly stated that this is a core tactic of his.
Box office isn’t everything, not anymore. They’ll make it back in collectible trash they sell to incels
Are there enough incels who are willing to pay for Joker merch?
There’s a whole online industry dedicated to making more incels, folks like Jordan Peterson. It’s been depressingly effective.
Manufacturing weirdos that are disconnected from reality is straightforward, and the fascists are investing heavily in it because from there, they practically push themselves into voting against their own interests with hate, conspiracism, and memes. Steve Bannon has explicitly stated that this is a core tactic of his.