The video explores the idea that the popular video game character Mario is a communist sympathizer. The host presents various arguments, including Mario's red color scheme, which is reminiscent of the "Red Scare" and the Bolshevik Party; his working-class occupation as a plumber; and his use of a hammer, a symbol of the Communist Party. Additionally, the video points out that Mario's enemy, Wario, is depicted as a greedy capitalist, and that the game's power-up mushroom is similar to the Amanita muscaria, a poisonous mushroom found in Siberia. The host also notes that Nintendo, the game's developer, is based in Japan, where the Japanese Communist Party has a significant presence. While the video ultimately leaves the question of Mario's communism open to debate, it suggests that these elements could be interpreted as communist propaganda.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Super Mario franchise was created by Nintendo, a Japanese company.
2. The Japanese Communist Party has been a strong presence in Japanese elections since the 1950s.
3. In the 1970s and 80s, when the Mario games were being developed, the Japanese Communist Party received around 10% of the votes in elections.
4. The Amanita muscaria mushroom, also known as the fly amanita, is a poisonous mushroom that has been used throughout history for its hallucinogenic properties.
5. The Amanita muscaria mushroom is found in Siberia, Russia.
6. The mushroom's appearance is similar to the mushrooms in the Super Mario games.
7. The red star is a symbol of the Communist Party, specifically the Red Army.
8. The five points of the red star represent the five fingers of the communist worker's hand.
9. The hammer and sickle are also emblems of the Communist Party.
10. The Russian Revolution, also known as the October Revolution, took place on November 7, 1917.
11. The revolution led to the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II and the establishment of a communist government.
12. Lenin, Stalin, and Trotsky were key figures in the Russian Revolution and the early years of the Soviet Union.
13. Stalin was responsible for the deaths of nearly 20 million people through famine, purges, and other means.