Ridiculous Historical Fiction Nails The Current State Of Media and Politics

Though Adolf Hitler is the protagonist in Look Who’s Back, it may as well be any modern politician who uses the same tactics to garner attention from the media and masses to rise to power. Waking up in the year 2011 not knowing he lost World War II, Hitler experiences a profound sense of culture shock, as he is trying to to interpret the world trough the lens of 1945 Nazi Germany. Homeless, afraid, and unaware of the current state of world politics, he saunters through the early chapters, trying to figure out where he belongs.

The answer to his question is that he doesn’t belong anywhere but the past, where he can no longer harm anybody through his reign of terror.

Look Who’s Back sees a frustrated Adolf Hitler comically grappling with modern technology as he makes attempts to let everybody know that he’s alive and well, and ready to re-enter politics. His frustration increases tenfold when witnesses think he’s just an eccentric homeless method actor who is pulling an Andy Kaufman-level prank on everybody. His unthinkable situation works to his advantage because he is invited onto a daytime variety talk show, where his problematic rants receive a considerable amount of media attention, eventually going viral on YouTube.

It doesn’t take long for the worst person in modern history to learn how to manipulate the masses with his newfound fame in Look Who’s Back. He makes empty promises to everyday people while simultaneously looking for scapegoats to blame for every modern problem society is facing. Using whatever media exposure he has, he publishes a book that becomes a best seller, with no end to his popularity in sight.

Television executives decide to lean into the premise and give him more attention, which continues to accumulate throughout both the novel and movie. After all, these very executives don’t think anything is sacred except for ratings. Refusing to break character, Hitler becomes a household name who even garners sympathy when he’s assaulted and hospitalized by his constituents for supposedly mocking his own legacy.

Look Who’s Back tells a story that’s hilariously hyperbolic to drive the point home that all publicity is good publicity in modern politics. In this case, a man who’s “literally Hitler” understands how to manipulate the media in his favor so he can continue his life’s work even though history has shown us the horrifying results during his first go-around. By leaning into his own controversies and committing to the bit, he becomes an icon because his exposure leads to high ratings, and those high ratings lead to people listening to his every word.

By transforming a menace to society into a TV personality, Look Who’s Back poignantly points out how easily a controversial figure could change the course of history, one viral video at a time.

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Propaganda is more prevalent than ever, and Look Who’s Back warns everybody to think critically because nobody wants history to repeat itself. Yet as our country becomes more divided than ever through the lens of red and blue, news networks sensationalize every aspect of politics to the point where we might as well host presidential debates in a wrestling ring instead of trying to work together for a common good. George Orwell warned us about how technology would ultimately take over our lives with 1984, and Look Who’s Back (not presently offered on streaming) warns a new generation that just because somebody goes viral, doesn’t mean they deserve our attention.