At the intersection of the trivializing of horrific violence aimed at ethnic/religious groups and the pornification of American culture, comes this “Anne Skank” costume:
[APOLOGIES: We were asked to remove the photograph and complied.]
Yes that is, indeed, a woman dressed up like Anne Frank, the Jewish child who hid from the Nazis for two years, only to be discovered and moved to a concentration camp where she died from Typhus. Her companions are dressed up like Nazi soldiers. The Halloween revelers who made the choice to sexualize and laugh at this 15-year-old victim of the holocaust are graduate students in a Creative Writing program.
UPDATE: Comments thread closed.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 169
Natalie Red Morse-Noland — October 28, 2011
There really are no words to describe how appallingly tactless, offensive, and stupid this is.
Guest — October 28, 2011
Wow. Unfuck that shit. That is incredibly offensive.
Nicole Healing — October 28, 2011
This has actually given me palpitations. This is far, far beyond the realms of decency.
Guest — October 28, 2011
And let me just say, to the first person who says anything along the lines of "But it's humor!"/"You just don't get sarcasm!"/"It's making fun of NAZIS!" - Unfuck you.
Ruby — October 28, 2011
Shame on every single one of you. You are all morally deplorable pieces of shit.
Melissa — October 28, 2011
Whoever did this is a massive douchebag who doesn't deserve any sort of fun ever. Fuck you so much.
Kat Walker — October 28, 2011
And this is why Halloween is a bullshit holiday.
Going Rampant — October 28, 2011
Now, I can see how people could find Nazis sexy, so if they were doing this for some private get-together of Nazi fetishists where no one would take offense, I don't think it's a big deal. It just tends to be extremely offensive to persons whose families were affected by the Holocaust [indicates self] and those sympathetic to them, so it's a problem that they felt comfortable wearing them out and about.
Given that Nazis hated black people as much as Jews, if the black guy were dressed as a Nazi on his own, he could get away with being ironic. It's the context of being next to the Ann Skank person that makes it offensive, IMO.
Sally — October 28, 2011
This is made even creepier by the (dead?) body hanging behind them.
Yaman — October 28, 2011
Stupid fools, what in the world is this bullshit?!
Cyndi — October 28, 2011
In what universe is this considered appropriate. In Germany, this is punishable by a year in prison.
Brendasblueberry — October 28, 2011
I'd call them pigs, but that's an insult to a worthy animal. These folks are just a waste.
Ninja_pope — October 28, 2011
Is this picture flipped, or did they reverse the swazis in a misguided attempt to make this less offensive?
SoOffended — October 28, 2011
To Lisa Wade: Lighten up.
Guest — October 28, 2011
Wow. Just...wow.
That One Bitch — October 28, 2011
Oh. My. Fucking. God.
As the Granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, this makes me livid.
Baiskeli — October 28, 2011
And I'm having a hard time thinking in what alternate Universe this wouldn't be a totally offensive, deplorable, tactless insensitive thing to do. These idiots should be ashamed of themselves.
Sam — October 28, 2011
At least the swastikas are backwards. that was probably their way of making it clear they are jesting.
Still messed up, but it's just a joke. I approve of mocking the nazis.
Kathryn — October 28, 2011
Just embarrassing. How they thought this was funny/clever really shows how tasteless they are.
Tenorina — October 28, 2011
As my bubbe would say, rest her soul, "oy vey iz mir, der velt iz meshugge." (WOE IS ME! THE WORLD IS CRAZY! or, in internetz, 'facepalm')
Anonymous — October 28, 2011
I'm curious if the request to remove the photo was from one of the people in the photo embarrassed that they were featured here in this context, or if it was from someone who was offended by the costumes. I initially assumed the latter but am now thinking the former sounds more likely ... still, as someone else pointed out in the comments already, it doesn't seem like it would have made it here if it wasn't already publicly available on the internet.
Christina — October 28, 2011
No point in asking to take the photo down now. It's out there and there's no salvaging it. If you are stupid enough to dress that way and then have your photo taken, you deserve to face the consequences. I'm not saying attack them or whatever, but being kicked out of their program and black listed seems sensible enough.
Mickey Clark — October 28, 2011
I'm blown away by the fact that these are GRADUATE students. I wouldn't bat an eye if it happened to be undergrads, but you'd think grad students would have some sense.
Christine — October 28, 2011
Repulsive. I found the photo via Google search and I'm surprised you complied in taking it down -- it's always possible to cite "fair use" when using images for reporting.
miss x — October 28, 2011
Heres the image if you missed it - http://i41.tinypic.com/fx6s5s.jpg
Nice they are now trying to hide it, seemed fine when you did it didn't it guys??
Thomas Gokey — October 28, 2011
A surprisingly unaware description of one woman's decision to dress as sexy Anne Frank last year: http://thegloss.com/fashion/my-own-slut-o-ween-story-sexy-anne-frank-877/
A WWII evacuee costume for young girls: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/does-world-war-ii-evacuee-costume-for-young-girls-cross-the-line/
A model who boasts of dressing as sexy Anne Frank last year: http://www.modelmayhem.com/1930998
I guess a good rule of thumb would be don't dress in a Halloween costume if you wouldn't mind having pics of it float around online and end up on SocImages.
ShellyD99 — October 28, 2011
Absolutely disgusting and abhorrent.
PinkWithIndignation — October 28, 2011
Anyone got a link? I'm a (too) late comer.
Cocojams Jambalayah — October 28, 2011
I agree with those who have written that this costume is highly offensive, and the play on words of the last name "Frank" with the word "skank" makes this idea even more offensive.
For those who aren't aware of the meaning of that American slang word, here's an entry from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=skank
Skank:
"A derogatory term directed towards females, usually young, suggesting sluttiness, lack of hygiene, poorness, cruelty, tackiness, or use of drugs/alchohol/cigarettes. Can be used towards any race."
lividicous — October 28, 2011
Got about halfway through the rabbithole of ever more esoteric arguments before giving up. However, I do have a modest proposal:
I will make a donation to their university if the university president commits to expelling these three sick morons. They have earned the right to be denied a decent future. Anybody with me?
Red Velvet — October 28, 2011
Hi. 40-50 million civilians died in WWII. Focusing on the Holocaust trivializes the deaths of the rest.
Marc Brenman — October 28, 2011
Why did you remove the photograph?
Evan — October 28, 2011
The image is here: The internet never forgets. http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltskrkvEmY1qcw8zfo1_500.jpg
numol — October 29, 2011
erasure is a problem, yeah, but you seem about 2 sentences away from "they're the ones who control the banks, you know!!!!!"
Nate — October 29, 2011
It's so refreshing to see something like this, fresh and new, to help nurture and perpetuate the victim complex and sense of self-righteousness that's so prevalent on comment sections of any given web page with a social bent.
Michael Arnold — October 29, 2011
Oh my, Too Soon?
Courtney — October 29, 2011
If YOUR daughter was murdered would you be ok with some asshole dressing up as a skanky version of her adolecent self no matter how many years later it was? I don't understand how "60 years later" makes it ok.
numol — October 29, 2011
you are both a disgusting bigoted victim-blamer AND an ageist asswipe. congrats [/sarcasm]. get out, troll.
numol — October 29, 2011
get out, worthless bigoted troll.
numol — October 29, 2011
get out, bigoted worthless troll.
numol — October 29, 2011
get out, bigoted worthless troll.
numol — October 29, 2011
right-wing whining, strawman arguments, anti-Semitism apologism AND a racial slur? you going for some kinda Troll Bingo or something? you trying to win a prize for Most Worthless Bigoted Asshat 2011?
numol — October 29, 2011
get out, worthless bigoted troll.
Dicky — October 29, 2011
If you had to choose one, who do you think has the right to be more offended here?
- The Indians with all the "pocahotties" that they're forced to endure every year.
- The ever suffering Jews and this latest blast of antisemitism.
I wish folks would cut this stuff out cuz we're gonna have to cancel Halloween next. We got fresh wounds here people!
numol — October 29, 2011
get out worthless troll
numol — October 29, 2011
GTFO worthless troll
numol — October 29, 2011
GTFO worthless troll
Amias Maldonado — October 29, 2011
I'm sure most people on this board would recognize the grievances of Palestine as well as the destructive legacy of the Native American genocide. But the last thing people need to do is engage in constructing a hierarchy of suffering. You're inflicting the same kind of symbolic violence on Jews as you would probably decry against Native Americans.
MRDA — October 29, 2011
I'm not getting the outrage.
Seeing that Nazis are the boogeymen of the Western world, and Anne Frank haunts
the cultural conscience, aren't Skank and her Anne Flankers getting into the spirit of Halloween by
dressing up in such garms?
Christa — October 31, 2011
Bit hypocritical to take one attrocity seriously while making a mockery of another, don't you think? Or are you under the impression that attrocities have a best-before date, and the inappropriateness of disrespecting victims expires after a generation or so? I hope you wouldn't find it so funny if the costume had been a joke on dead palestinian children, as that would imply you had some human sentiments left, but you know you're beeing an ass when hipocrisy is the best you can hope for.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
DON'T WORRY, EVERYBODY! He's black, so it's okay.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Come on... This could only be offensive if everyone ACTUALLY remember she was a young girl victimized by colonialism. Thanks Disney for erasing the bad memories!
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Sa-tire? I do not understand this word. Explain it to me.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Aww, look at the ba-by!
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
I'm sure not a sexist joke was told.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
The "mute" button is on her boob--what a time saver!
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Yeah, but, Michael Vick DESERVES it.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
You see, the presence of the black guy in WHITE FACE makes it okay, because it's ironic.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Separate: Hitler, gay = not okay. But together? Hi-larioussss!
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Yeah, but it's a PRETTY stereotype.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
But he's dressed up as a samurai, because he thinks it's COOL.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Oh come on, you know how PETA overreacts...
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
But older women DO have floppy boobs, and, come on, we all kind of think that's gross...
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Yeah, but it's timely...
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Maybe there's a black guy underneath there--that would make it okay, right?
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
All in good fun.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Well, if the Catholics had kept their priests under control...
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Maybe they couldn't AFFORD less offensive costumes.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
Yeah, but he's a white public figure...
Kcsn047 — November 1, 2011
This is fun!!!!! lets do Mascots next!!!! Ok. I'll start it off.
It is faith not hate?
http://nguskyliner.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/CrusaderMascotWomensBball.jpg
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
No, no, it's okay... We're Christians. God will forgive us.
Lili82 — November 1, 2011
It's funny because the burka is ironic...
Sigmundshadenfreude — November 1, 2011
Talking about to Holocaust trivializes the Holocaust.
Ruby — November 2, 2011
"the jewish?" clearly i'm talking to someone of admirable intelligence and tolerance. but you will be hard-pressed to find any member of "the jewish" who would make anything as tasteless as this. and if it exists, no rationale person would praise it or find any humor.
Jim — October 31, 2012
I'm Jewish and this is funny as shit. Wish the pics were still here.
Kenzie Walz — October 8, 2014
Perhaps if Anne Frank had a sibling that was still alive and saw this...? Yeah...