What is Country Ball? A Guide to the Geopolitical Satirical Art Style and Internet Meme
If you are a fan of flags, geography, history, politics, or humor, you might have come across some online comics featuring countries as spherical personas decorated with their national flags. These comics are known as Country Ball, also sometimes called Poland Ball. They are a form of geopolitical satirical art style, genre, and internet meme that poke fun at national stereotypes, international relations, and historical events. In this article, we will explore the origin, features, popularity, controversy, and criticism of Country Ball.
The Origin of Country Ball
Country Ball has a rather obscure and disputed origin story. Some trace it back to an incident on a website called drawball.com in August 2009, while others credit a British user named Falco on a German imageboard called Krautchan.net in September 2009. Let's take a look at both events.
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The Drawball.com Incident
Drawball.com was a website where users could freely draw on a circular canvas called a "drawball". In August 2009, thousands of Polish netizens from various sites took over the entire drawball with an illustration of the Polish flag with the word "POLSKA" in the middle. This was seen as a patriotic act by some and a trolling act by others. Some users from other countries tried to stop or join the Polish invasion, resulting in a chaotic and colorful battle on the drawball. This event was recorded and uploaded to YouTube, where it gained millions of views. Some consider this as the first appearance of a literal "Poland ball".
The Krautchan.net Comics
Krautchan.net was a German imageboard where users could post anonymously on various topics. In September 2009, a British user named Falco created some comics featuring countries as balls with eyes without pupils, speaking in broken English. He did this to mock a Polish internet troll named Wojak, who used to post on the same board using poor grammar and spelling. Falco's comics depicted Poland as an upside-down flag ball that was naive, stupid, and obsessed with space travel. He also introduced other country balls such as Germany, Russia, USA, UK, France, etc. His comics were popular among other users on the board, especially Russians. They started to create their own comics using Falco's style and format. These comics were later dubbed as "Polandball" or "Countryball".
The Features of Country Ball
Country Ball has some distinctive features that make it unique and recognizable among other online comics. These include the characters, the language, and the humor.
The Characters
The main characters of Country Ball are countries or political entities that are personified as balls with eyes without pupils. They are decorated with their national flags or other symbols that represent them. For example, Poland is an upside-down flag ball, Germany is a flag ball with a cross on its chest, Russia is a flag ball with Ushanka hat and vodka bottle, etc. Some characters also have accessories or traits that reflect their culture or history. For example, USA has sunglasses and burgers, UK has monocle and tea, Japan has anime eyes and katana, etc.
Some characters are not balls but other shapes or objects that fit their theme or joke. For example, Israel is a cube (a reference to the tefillin), Kazakhstan is a brick (a reference to the Borat movie), Singapore is a triangle (a reference to the Merlion statue), etc.
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There are also some non-country characters that appear in some comics, such as regions, cities, organizations, ideologies, religions, planets, etc. For example, Texas is a cowboy hat ball, Vatican is a pope hat ball, NATO is a star ball, Communism is a hammer and sickle ball, Mars is a red ball, etc.
The Language
The language of Country Ball is one of its most distinctive and humorous features. The characters speak in broken English with grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and phonetic accents. This is done to mimic the stereotypes and difficulties of non-native English speakers, as well as to create comic effects and wordplays. For example, Poland says "Poland cannot into space" (meaning Poland cannot go to space), Germany says "Anschluss Zeit" (meaning annexation time), France says "Hon hon hon" (a laughter sound), etc.
Some characters also use words or phrases from their own languages or other languages that they interact with. For example, Russia says "cyka blyat" (a Russian curse word), Japan says "kawaii" (meaning cute), Mexico says "gringo" (a term for foreigners), etc.
The Humor
The humor of Country Ball is based on satire, parody, irony, sarcasm, exaggeration, and absurdity. The comics poke fun at national stereotypes, international relations, historical events, cultural differences, current affairs, and other topics related to geopolitics and world history. For example, some comics joke about Poland's inability to go to space, Germany's obsession with efficiency and order, USA's interventionism and imperialism, UK's isolationism and nostalgia, France's surrendering and arrogance, etc.
Some comics also use references to popular culture, memes, internet trends, or other media that are relevant or funny to the topic or the characters. For example, some comics parody movies such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc., or use memes such as Doge, Pepe the Frog, Rickroll, etc.
The Popularity of Country Ball
Country Ball has become a very popular and widespread internet meme and art style since its inception in 2009. It has spawned many online communities, media coverage, spin-offs and adaptations.
The Online Communities
There are many online platforms where Country Ball fans can create, share, discuss, and enjoy Country Ball comics and related content. Some of the most popular ones are:
Platform
Description
r/polandball
A subreddit on Reddit that hosts Country Ball comics and has over 700k subscribers. It has strict rules and quality standards for submissions and comments.
Polandball Wiki
A wiki site that provides information and resources on Country Ball characters, comics, history, culture, etc. It has over 10k pages and 40k images.
Polandball Facebook
A Facebook page that posts Country Ball comics and has over 1.3 million likes. It also has a group where fans can interact and share their own comics.
Countryballs.net
A website that allows users to create and upload their own Country Ball comics using a simple editor. It also has a forum and a chat room for discussion and feedback.
Countryball World
A website that hosts Country Ball comics and animations made by various artists. It also has a blog and a shop where fans can buy merchandise.
The Media Coverage
Country Ball has also attracted the attention and interest of some mainstream media outlets, journalists, academics, and celebrities. Some examples of media coverage are:
In 2014, The Economist published an article titled "The rise of Polandball" that analyzed the phenomenon and its implications for geopolitics and diplomacy.
In 2015, BBC News published an article titled "Polandball: The bizarre online world of national stereotypes" that interviewed some Country Ball creators and fans and explored the history and culture of the meme.
In 2016, Vox published a video titled "Polandball explained" that explained the origin, features, popularity, and controversy of Country Ball in a concise and humorous way.
In 2017, PewDiePie, the most subscribed YouTube channel at the time, made a video titled "POLANDBALL MEMES" where he reacted to some Country Ball comics and expressed his appreciation for the meme.
In 2018, The Guardian published an article titled "How Polandball took over the internet with bad jokes and broken English" that traced the evolution and influence of Country Ball and its subgenres.
The Spin-offs and Adaptations
Country Ball has also inspired many spin-offs and adaptations that use the same or similar style and format but with different themes or characters. Some examples of spin-offs and adaptations are:
Stateball: A subgenre of Country Ball that features states or provinces as balls instead of countries. For example, California is a flag ball with sunglasses and a surfboard, Texas is a flag ball with a cowboy hat and a gun, Quebec is a flag ball with a fleur-de-lis and a baguette, etc.
Cityball: A subgenre of Country Ball that features cities as balls instead of countries. For example, New York is a flag ball with an apple and a skyscraper, London is a flag ball with a crown and a bus, Tokyo is a flag ball with anime eyes and sushi, etc.
Planetball: A subgenre of Country Ball that features planets as balls instead of countries. For example, Earth is a blue-green ball with continents and clouds, Mars is a red ball with craters and dust storms, Jupiter is a striped ball with a big red spot, etc.
Mapping: A genre of online videos that use Country Ball characters to depict alternative history scenarios or fictional stories involving geopolitics and world events. For example, The Future of Europe series by MervueMeringue, The Alternate Future of Asia series by Japanese Mapping, The History of the World series by Emperor Tigerstar, etc.
Countryhumans: A genre of online art that uses humanized versions of countries instead of balls. They are similar to Country Ball characters but have more realistic features such as hair, eyes, clothes, etc. They are often used for fan art or shipping purposes.
The Controversy and Criticism of Country Ball
Country Ball is not without its controversy and criticism. Some people have accused it of being racist, stereotypical, offensive, or insensitive. Some countries have banned or restricted the use or display of Country Ball comics or characters. Some fans have complained about the quality and creativity of some Country Ball comics or creators. Let's examine these issues in more detail.
The Accusations of Racism and Stereotyping
One of the most common criticisms of Country Ball is that it is racist and stereotypical. Some people argue that Country Ball comics rely on outdated, inaccurate, or harmful stereotypes of countries and their people, such as Poland being dumb and poor, Germany being aggressive and authoritarian, France being cowardly and snobbish, China being communist and copycat, etc. They claim that these stereotypes are offensive, disrespectful, and ignorant, and that they promote prejudice, discrimination, and hatred among nations and cultures.
However, some defenders of Country Ball counter that it is not racist or stereotypical, but rather satirical and humorous. They argue that Country Ball comics are meant to be jokes, not facts, and that they use exaggeration and irony to mock the stereotypes, not to endorse them. They claim that Country Ball comics are harmless, playful, and educational, and that they foster awareness, diversity, and friendship among nations and cultures.
The Legal Issues and Bans
Another controversy of Country Ball is that it has faced some legal issues and bans in some countries. Some governments have deemed Country Ball comics or characters as illegal, inappropriate, or disrespectful to their national symbols, sovereignty, or dignity. For example:
In 2014, a Malaysian man was arrested for posting a Country Ball comic on Facebook that depicted Malaysia as a flag ball with a pig snout. He was charged with sedition and insulting Islam.
In 2015, a Russian court banned a website that hosted Country Ball comics for being extremist and inciting hatred. The court ruled that the comics insulted Russia and its allies, such as China, Iran, Syria, etc.
In 2016, a Turkish court blocked access to r/polandball for violating the law on crimes against Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. The court found that some comics on the subreddit depicted Turkey as a flag ball with a mustache resembling Atatürk's.
In 2017, a Chinese man was detained for selling Country Ball merchandise on an online platform. He was accused of violating the law on the use of national flags and emblems.
The Quality and Creativity Concerns
A final criticism of Country Ball is that it has suffered from a decline in quality and creativity over time. Some fans have complained that some Country Ball comics or creators are repetitive, boring, unoriginal, or low-effort. They argue that some comics use the same jokes, characters, or scenarios, or rely on clichés, tropes, or templates. They claim that some comics lack originality, creativity, or effort, and that they do not reflect the current or relevant issues or events of the world.
However, some defenders of Country Ball counter that it is not declining in quality or creativity, but rather evolving and diversifying. They argue that some comics are still innovative, interesting, or high-quality, and that they use different styles, formats, or themes. They claim that some comics are more nuanced, complex, or informative, and that they reflect the diversity, dynamism, or challenges of the world.
The Conclusion
Country Ball is a fascinating and popular internet meme and art style that has captured the imagination and attention of millions of people around the world. It is a form of geopolitical satirical art that uses countries as balls with eyes to make jokes about national stereotypes, international relations, historical events, and other topics related to geopolitics and world history. It has a disputed origin story that involves a Polish invasion of a drawball and a British mockery of a Polish troll. It has distinctive features such as the characters, the language, and the humor. It has spawned many online communities, media coverage, spin-offs and adaptations. It has also faced some controversy and criticism for being racist, stereotypical, offensive, or insensitive, or for being banned or restricted in some countries, or for being repetitive, boring, unoriginal, or low-effort.
Country Ball is a meme that reflects the diversity, complexity, and humor of the world we live in. It is a meme that can make us laugh, think, learn, and connect with each other. It is a meme that can show us the beauty and the absurdity of our planet and its inhabitants.
FAQs
Q: What is Country Ball?
A: Country Ball is a form of geopolitical satirical art style, genre, and internet meme that poke fun at national stereotypes, international relations, and historical events using countries as balls with eyes.
Q: How did Country Ball start?
A: Country Ball has a disputed origin story that involves a Polish invasion of a drawball in August 2009 and a British mockery of a Polish troll in September 2009.
Q: What are the features of Country Ball?
A: Country Ball has distinctive features such as the characters (countries as balls with eyes), the language (broken English with accents), and the humor (satire, parody, irony).
Q: How popular is Country Ball?
A: Country Ball is very popular and widespread on the internet. It has many online communities, media coverage, spin-offs and adaptations.
Q: What are the controversy and criticism of Country Ball?
A: Country Ball has faced some controversy and criticism for being racist, stereotypical, offensive, or insensitive, or for being banned or restricted in some countries, or for being repetitive, boring, unoriginal, or low-effort.
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