Taken over by the trolls

Beer Prakken&s;s chapter examines the practice of trolling as a political strategy, with a focus on its use by U.S. conservatives. Beer Prakken analyzes how trolling serves as a tool for concealing racist and nationalist speech while uniting right-wing groups and actors. Through an ironic and playful façade, right-wing trolls mask their transgressive views, presenting them as jokes or free speech, making it easier to defend racist, nationalist, or sexist statements. Drawing on existing scholarship that links trolling to irony, sarcasm, and dark play, Prakken expands on Schechner&s;s concept of “dark play” to offer a deeper understanding of how trolling contributes to political radicalization. He argues that “dark absorption” – the process of becoming fully immersed in play – is key to understanding how trolling fosters a sense of identity and intensifies political engagement within online communities.